BEACON STORY
IN PRISON BUT PRISON IS NOT IN ME
BY C . B . GOH AS TOLD BY PRASAD
"
Cornelius
, I need to tell you the truth .”
“ What is it , Prasad ?” “ I truly sorry , hiding this thing from you guys .”
Prasad had been going through a rehabilitation programme under the watchful supervision of Cornelius for the past months . Since staying at the rehabilitation centre , Prasad had experienced a transformation in his life . However , he had a secret unknown to his fellow inmates . He thought he could keep it hidden forever . One day , he was asked to renew his driving licence . He knew doing so would bring trouble to him . He was worried and hesitated for the next three days if he should tell the truth about himself .
“ Brother Corn ,” Prasad finally said , “ I ’ m on the police wanted list .”
Stunned , Cornelius asked , “ What case is this ?
“ I ran away from Pusat Serenti ,” Prasad answered calmly , not sure where this conversation would lead him to .
Prasad was caught by drug enforcement officers for taking drugs and placed at Pusat Serenti Gambang in 2009 . A few months later , he escaped and was put on the police wanted list .
“ Why you didn ’ t tell ?” asked Cornelius as he probed further .
“ Sorry , I still have my old nature ,” answered Prasad softly , “ I needed help but also in hiding .”
Prasad did not pack his bag and leave the centre even though he had thought of it ! He had struggled to tell the truth . He had encountered God and finally found peace at this rehab centre . And he did not want to lose it .
He prayed , “ God , I want to be set free from all bondages , to be free again . I have peace here in this place .” Prasad sensed God ’ s Word speaking to him , “ Be still , Prasad , and know that I am God ..” He responded , “ Yes , God , I want to be still . I can ’ t go anywhere and not safe . If I don ’ t surrender , I won ’ t be able to have peace and joy .” Prasad heard from God , “ Go and get it done . I will be with you all the way ..”
Cornelius managed to get further details on how to manage Prasad ’ s case . He contacted the Agensi Dadah Kebangsaan ( ADK ) and was advised by an ADK officer to surrender to the nearest police station since it was a police wanted case .
“ Prasad , I am giving you a day off , and when you are ready to surrender , let me know ,” said Cornelius . “ Ok I will let you know ,” replied Prasad . It was not a rest day for him as Prasad ’ s mind was governed by indecisiveness again . Surrender or not to surrender ? God ’ s assurance echoed through him again and he experienced the touch of God . The next day arrived . “ Are you ready ?” asked Cornelius . “ Yes , I am ready to go ,” replied Prasad confidently .
At a nearby police station , they met a police sergeant and related Prasad ’ s incident to him .
“ I think I can ’ t really help you ,” said the sergeant , “ you punya kes sudah lama , kalau tolong periksa , banyak kena buat . Sekarang saya tak dapat tolong awak .( Yours is an old case . If I investigate , there ’ s much to do . I can ’ t help you now .)”
“ Wah , this police also don ’ t want to take your case ,” Cornelius jested . “ Ok , we go back and discuss .”
Sensing that God wanted him to do the right thing , Prasad said , “ Bro . Corn , God is telling me to surrender today no matter what . Why don ’ t we go to the Sentul police station ?”
Cornelius did not expect such a reply , and said , “ You really are bold . Very good , this is the way it should be ….”
At the Sentul police station , Prasad again related his situation to the police and said he wanted to surrender .
“ So , you gentleman , mari surrender ?” the police officer said in amazement .
“ Sir , I went to rehab centre to change my life ,” Prasad explained , “ now that I am a Christian , God is helping me .”
The police officer pondered for awhile , glanced at Prasad and said , “ Very good , I will help you !”
Prasad was immediately taken into custody at the police station . Several days later , he was transferred to Kuantan and detained further to await his court hearing .
In the court , the judge asked Prasad , “ What took you so long to surrender ? Before this , you didn ’ t want to surrender ?”
“ I needed help and did not know where to go . So I went to this Christian rehab centre . It was different ,” replied Prasad . The judge listened while jotting down some notes . “ At the rehab , I learn to seek God and I feel this is the right time to surrender ,” Prasad added .
The prosecutor was adamant in pressing for the maximum sentence of two years imprisonment and two strokes of caning . The court was told of Prasad ’ s past offences and imprisonments . He had been imprisoned three times in drug-and-gangster related offences . The judge nodded and acknowledged the prosecutor ’ s presentation on Prasad ’ s background , looked at her notes and glanced at Prasad .
“ Six months in prison , NO caning ,” the judge read out the sentence . The judge asked , “ Is it okay ?” “ I am very thankful for the reduced sentence , thank you very much ,” Prasad replied in gratitude .
While in prison , Prasad penned down his thoughts on a little piece of paper : ‘ You can ’ t control what happen to you , but with God ’ s help , you can control what happen to you . I am in prison , but prison is not in me .'
Prasad has finally experienced peace in his life . Do you want the peace that only God can give ? Pray like this : “ God , I want to have peace in my life . I believe Jesus died for my sin and rose from the grave . I want to turn from my sin and follow You . In Jesus ’ name , Amen ”
C . B . Goh lives in the Klang Valley , is married and a father to four growing children .
ASIAN BEACON 48 # 1 December 2016 - January 2017 13