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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Soul (07/13/06)
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BARS
The sun was just coming up over the horizon as I was driving to work, amusing myself with singing my favorite song "One Day at a Time." As I topped the hill into McAlister the silhouette of the prison greeted me.
I parked the car and walked to the gate. I was searched as usual and proceeded through three more sets of locked gates. From several directions I heard, "Good Morning Dr. Williams." My nurse handed me my list of patients for the day as I entered the infirmary.
A sadness fell over me as I noted that Brickyard had died early this morning. He was a ninety-one year old prisoner and was found dead outside the prison gate. He became a prisoner at thirteen for stealing a horse. In that day stealing a horse was a crime comparable to murder.
H e had finally served his time and was released. He had cried and resisted being released.
Brickyard was a prisoner that was loved by the guards as well as the inmates. He was a very kind man, he was jolly and had an art at turning tears to laughter with everyone he came into contact with. The crime that put him in prison was very different from the stigma of conclusion
you would draw from today's crime.
He knew no other life, he had very little education, he could barely read and write. His spirit was gentle but spunky. His mannerisms were kind and he always tried to be happy and bring happiness to others. Today you could feel the sadness repel through the prison.
As I allowed myself to think above my own sadness I couldn't help but reminisce over the life he had lived in the prison and all of the stars and jewels he would find in his crown in heaven above. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." ( James 1:12 NKJV) He loved his God and spoke of that love to everyone. The prisoners were his family. No one outside of these bars even knew he existed. He had no family or friends in the outside world anymore, they were all dead.
Being released to an outside world that he knew nothing about and having to leave the only family he knew broke his heart. He left this world wrapped in his jacket just as though he had fallen asleep. He was on the other side of the bars, with no more restrictions.
Everywhere I went the prisoners were ready to share their stories about Brickyard. Some were
funny and brought laughter while others were serious and brought silence. But for me the most awesome, thought provoking story of all is what I call "The rest of the story." Brickyard had only stolen back the horse that someone had stolen from him.
How his inner soul must have hurt and grieved at having his entire life of freedom taken from him. In God's eyes the principles of Christianity were portrayed as he overcame the obstacles he faced. Many would have become bitter and resentful. He never got to experience love, marriage or become a father. His dreams never got to center around having a family, building a home or choosing a profession. There were so many things we take for granted and complain about. Instead Brickyard became a friend and a father figure to countless inmates.
I reverently closed his chart for the final time as I prepared to leave for the day. As I left the prison I determined in my heart to make every day more meaningful.
Our soul is so important, it is the imprint of our time on earth. It stands at the Judgement Day
before God. It's not the wealth we obtain, it's not the things we own, its not the status of the charities we support, the people we know, or the position of clout we have, that inscribes on our soul. It's the deeds done in silence that helps someone in need and the money given in secret to
relieve a burden. It's the times we listen with our heart as well as our ears to the less fortunate and offer assurance, prayers and care that inscribes the success of our life that speaks to our Maker. It is at death where our soul returns to the God who gave it.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Philip Barnes
07/22/06
I loved the story of the old man. I worked in prison ministry for some time and it is true that there are many Godly people behind those bars. Be careful when you write, you wrote "I say" then you quoted Paul Harvey, either give Paul Harvey credit or better yet use the talent that you obviously have and give us a new line to remember.
Marilyn Schnepp 
07/27/06
You desperately need to separate your paragraphs - as it is very difficult to read when it is massed together in one long, long paragraph. Readers look for "reader-friendly material to read, something that is easy on the eyes; thank you for sharing your story.