Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Pros and Cons (08/14/14)
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TITLE: Oasis for Prisoners in the Desert | Previous Challenge Entry
By Anita van der Elst
08/20/14 -
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Now hundreds of pairs of eyes gaze down at us from the prison gymnasium bleachers, each pair owned by cons of varying degrees of hardness. What in the world are we doing here again?
The previous fall my church drama group experienced the privilege of performing a play here in Arizona State Prison’s Rincon Unit. The play, set amongst the homeless of Los Angeles, telling of an embittered young runaway who eventually found redemption, had resonated with our captive audience. Our drama ministry director, Shannon, has received an invitation to bring this year’s production, the one we’d performed at our church this past spring, as well. But this theatrical offering centers on the Biblical story of Elijah. Would these guys put up with such a theme?
After our opening prayer at September’s first rehearsal, Shannon puts the matter to the drama group. She encourages us to speak our minds and express our hearts. “Melissa,” Shannon says, turning to me. “As secretary would you make notes of our discussion?”
“Sure,” I reply.
After twenty minutes of hashing the reality of the endeavor, some with more enthusiasm than others, Shannon says, “Maybe we need to take a vote.”
“Shannon,” I wave my notebook at her. “I made a little chart that lists the pros and cons of this project.”
“Good idea,” Shannon agrees. “And no pun intended, right?”
“Well, maybe a little pun,” I grin back. “Because, you know, they might be the cons but we’re the pros at this.”
The group groans, but laughs with me. Shannon glances over my chart. “You’re right. We are pros and even though we might think this musical is beyond that audience’s scope of reference, I believe God is calling us to present this story to those men. As always we will do our professional best and leave the cons to Him. Who knows, maybe it will be an oasis in the desert for them. And it looks like the pros on this chart outweigh the cons anyway. But I’ll still ask for a show of hands. All in favor, raise your hands.”
All hands go up, even of the more reluctant members.
Now six weeks later sitting on the hard concrete floor, where there is no proper stage or curtain, those of us actors not involved in any particular scene are at liberty to observe our audience. Noisy blue-shirted men quiet down without being told, as they watch the story unfold. They have not been informed ahead of time what the play is about. In amazement we see eyes overflowing with tears, their response to the moment when Elijah expresses his feelings of being abandoned by God after his encounter with Jezebel on Mt. Carmel.
The chaplain later tells us that many of them struggle in their relationship with God in much the same way. “In addition,” he explains, “This is the only time these men can allow their true emotions to come through. In the yards they must maintain a strong, invulnerable exterior. You’ve brought them refreshment today.”
After the play is over, the cast is permitted to shake hands and converse with the prisoners, a practice not usually allowed. The warden himself attended the play and because he saw the effect on the men, gave the go-ahead.
“I just accepted Christ last month,” one tattooed young man informs a cast member.
She asks, “How did that happen?”
He responds by hugging the guy next to him. “My buddy here introduced me to Him.”
Another extroverted inmate, towering over me and sporting a toothless albeit youthful grin, says, “I just read that story of Elijah five times this week in my own Bible!”
Thinking of the chaplain’s words, I feel refreshed myself. I smile, and shake the inmate’s huge paw. “Sounds like you’re becoming quite a pro at it.”
(Author’s note: Fiction based on autobiographical experience.)
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God bless~
Nice job.
God bless~