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Year Four, Day 67: In My Own Little Corner

I spent the morning in court.  This process is opening my eyes to the plight of inmates.  Everyone makes mistakes in their lives. Some learn from their mistakes.  Some are destroyed from them. 

I'm not even addressing the evil criminals. Those that get pleasure from inflicting pain on others. Or those who feel they are above the law.

I'm talking about people who make mistakes due to poor judgment.  Often due to addiction. Which should be considered an illness, in my opinion. But that is another soapbox.

What I saw today simply saddened me.  Many inmates went before a judge who asked if they had read the charges and understood them.  Most had not read the paper. Some didn't know there was a paper.  Most did not understand.  They were told to read it and come back. And if they had questions, they could ask their attorney.

One man looked up sadly and said, "I did not even know I had an attorney".

I realize our jails are overcrowded. Legal language is confusing.  I can understand how our society functions looking at it from the outside.  But from the inside? From the perspective of the person who made a mistake that he or she is going to have to pay for through losing their freedom?

And why are our jails overcrowded?  I saw a lot of substance related crimes. Why are so many people addicted?

Talk about  a big knot!  But these are questions that cannot easily be answered. 

Perhaps it would be useful to find out how we can help those incarcerated and their families. To make sense of their situation, to navigate the legal system, and how to use their time wisely if they are sentenced to time in jail. Or simply to give comfort, and perhaps pray with and for them. 

I feel the need to do something.

In the meantime, I am trying to be the best me that is possible. The best teacher, grandma, mom, daughter, sister and friend. 

It is all I can do. It reminds me of the helpless feeling I had after the attack on 9/11/2001.  I had a client call and ask if I was given therapeutic massages that afternoon. I told him I hadn't thought about it. I was in shock.

He told me that he was too, but that maybe by living our lives in our little corner of the world, as best we could we be how we could heal.

I thought that was very wise. I gave that massage. We both cried the entire time. But the connection made me feel that evil will not prevail. 

And I feel like that now.

Focusing on the love. In my own little corner of the world.



Talk to you soon.

Love,

Zita




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