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