Thursday, September 18, 2014

Ugly Feet

If we say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news," then these are some damned ugly, stinky feet. A report issued on Tuesday by the Bureau of Justice Statistics demonstrates that Tennessee's prison population is larger than it has ever been. Click here to read more.

We should bear in mind that each one of the 28,521 people being warehoused by the principality that is the State of Tennessee has a name, a birth date, and a mother. Each one has a favorite color and food. Each one is a miracle that bears the very image of the divine. Each one has a story that deserves to be heard. Each one has dreams of what his or her life could have been. Many of them have spouses and children who miss them.

Some, not all, but some, have acted violently towards others. Some have stolen property. Many have used substances that the State says they can not use. Each one of them, just like every other Tennessean and human to ever live, is more than their worst mistake. None of these people should be simply warehoused and forgotten. None of them are beyond the scope of God's lovingkindness, compassion, forgiveness, and redemption. If we believe our holy scriptures, God is especially concerned with these 28,521 of his children and expects us to be equally concerned.

Will you glance at the article, shake your head, and go about your day? Or will you take another small step?

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