PBMR : the New Creation
painting by Adolfo Davis who serves life without parole in Stateville Correctional Center for a crime when he was 14 years of age
Life in the Pod by Fr . Denny Kinderman , c . pp . s ., pbmr He stood there to hear the judge say that his trial will be held in February . He knew that meant another 64 days of incarceration , after he had already been in the juvenile detention center for six months . The state is accusing Nigel of habitual crimes which — if he is found guilty — will result in his incarceration in prison until he is 21 , three years from now .
“ Come in here and talk with us ” was the greeting as I was walking into the pod in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center . ( A pod is one section , of about 30 , in which 15 to 18 youth spend their day in individual cells or two common areas ). They were in the tv area . Turning off the tv and circling their chairs , six kids felt like sharing their thoughts . The first kid began a heart-to-heart discourse confessing his determination to change — again ! He ’ s “ gonna do what my momma says , get back in school , stop smoking weed , go to church and not do stuff that will get me locked up .” He ’ s determined now , but when he gets out he ’ s back doing what he can ’ t seem to stop doing . His story is a sad saga of recidivism . It isn ’ t his first stint being locked up , but he hopes that he ’ ll be able to make it his last .
Immediately the others chimed in saying that that ’ s their story as well , admitting the same challenges and the same results . What happens to dreams and hopes and prayers to change lives ? Does God not care ? It raised doubts about God ’ s attention to their prayers , and questions about their own sincerity . “ Am I a phony for praying only when I ’ m locked up and forgetting about God when I ’ m free ?”
Nigel came into the pod , returning from playing chess elsewhere in the detention center . He and Antonio slid chairs into the circle joining in . “ Father Denny , let ’ s do circle like we do at the center . Here ’ s the talking piece .” He places a small golf pencil in the continued on next page
January 2017 • The New Wine Press • 11