Harmful Traps

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." - Romans 8:15 (NIV)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. - Deuteronomy 7:8 (NIV) 

It was sad to see…Many names of prisoners who were just released. Yet…they came back to the prison. Unable to live a life outside the prison walls. Unable to function and be useful. Coupled with their habitual use of illegal substances, most of them returned in no time. Unable to get out of those things that trapped their bodies and souls. 

He was thin. A lot taller than I was. As I called his name from the waiting area, he eagerly opened the metal door and closed as I had ordered. Only to stay there as I couldn’t let him in further when the group of Inmate workers were cleaning the Clinic’s floor and making it shine. The smell of chemical reaching my already congested sinuses. He was treated at the hospital prior to my arrival at work. For abdominal pain. The source sort of vague. But with the aid of narcotics, he came back in a better spirit.

“When can I get my Morphine and MS Contin?” he asked.

“I have to put you for the doctor’s sick call, Sir. Because nurses can’t give you those not unless they write the order first.”

“That’s against the law,” he quickly fired back.

“What is?”

“If I don’t get my meds,” he tried to sound rationally.

“Did I say anything that you are not going to get them?”

He got silent. Digesting what he just said and what answer I gave back. He thought he was going to be smarter than me. Trying to intimidate and instill fear that if I didn’t succumb to his demands, law suit could be filed. The deputy was nearby. Observing and just letting me dealt with him. The deputy and I both knew…he was not the only one with behaviors like that. Quick to demand for their rights. Forgetting the fact that they were the ones who violated some laws that brought them in this dark place.

He thanked me and apologized instead. He stopped telling me what to do for what he wanted. He knew he couldn’t get away with those wishes. Because it was just fair, depending upon their needs, if justified, would in fact be given. No special treatments for anyone…

Life would be better outside, he knew that. Than to stay in the prison. But with his addiction and perhaps, lack of financial resources to feed the habit, he preferred to be behind bars. He was the one afraid of trying to escape from this trap that had consumed him for many years. Just like what the others did. They didn’t want to try. To live that life of freedom. To change their harmful lifestyles…Harmful traps…

There are so many things of this world that can trap us, as believers, if we are not careful. We always have that choice to live our lives free or not. But even more liberating is to put our hope in Jesus’ wonderful and true promises…An eternal life….Not in this world…But in His Kingdom…

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. – Colossians 3:2 (NIV)

My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? – John 14:2 (NIV)

And people will come from all over the world--from east and west, north and south--to take their places in the Kingdom of God. – Luke 13:29 (NLT)

The Work Crew

The need had been great...With our work’s staffing. The shortage caused by some nurses fired and others who had chosen to leave. Burdened by politics. If not, overwhelmed with work that should have been done by more nurses ended up with themselves tackling on their own.

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She was another Per Diem. Like me. Occasionally picking up shifts to help out. Like I usually did. She enjoyed the particular crew I usually worked with. Despite the shortage, we managed. Though overwhelmed, we learned to survive. Because we tried to help out each other. Whatever way we could.

Like her. She might be a new nurse. But she was an awesome learner. Easily learned the trade. 

Except… She was a little afraid to hear that Per Diem’s would start to float to Intake to relieve the regular nurses who were getting burned out. Intake…Where officers from so many cities would bring their arrestees. And with sicker population, the place could be like a big tornado. Ready to devastate an otherwise quiet night. Especially if arrestees would admit that they had medical and mental health issues.

We encouraged for her to taste and see how it was like. To be there on her first night not on her own but with another hardworking nurse. Who could teach her the ropes. To enable her to survive. And perhaps, lessen and vanish her fear. And she did try…

I saw her last Sunday.  The Charge Nurse had sent me to help her check on the suicidal inmates and logged on the list, instead of her. So she could catch up with her charting. I was met with a huge smile. And I sensed a diminished anxiety. I could feel she was getting more comfortable in that busy place. 

“I don’t mind coming to work here now,” she uttered.

“Because no matter how busy, all of you help me,” she added.

“That’s the way it should be. You help us out, too,” I replied.

“Yeah…I guess if you’re in the right group, though busy, it doesn’t seem like it…” 

She thanked me. And I thanked her back. We said our “goodbyes” knowing that we would see each other again in the days to come. We felt good knowing that we were working with those nurses who never complained and accepted each challenge to the best ability they could. We would never fear knowing that no matter the circumstance, someone would always back us up and would easily give us that extra hand that we didn’t have. We smiled at each other despite hearing some drunk inmates housed in a nearby “sobering cells”, yelling and banging on the metal doors and glass windows. We were not fazed by their threats. I knew she discovered…There was really no room to be “an expert” in that place. Not even to be smart. Nor strong. Nor familiar with procedures or policies…For a new and fresh trial could come in from that big, fenced yard. Anytime. Any day.  And help would be there…From this whole crew…And in unity…that was where the strength came.

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? – 1 John 3:17 (ESV)

Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. – Proverbs 22:9 (NLT)

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. – Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. – Matthew 25:35-36 (NIV)

In Me...

How many times I’ve heard the news before?

When prisoner or prisoners got some of the guards pregnant? When some of the prison’s employees helped inmates escaped? When prisoners were able to get help smuggling drugs or contrabands because of some corrupted prison staff? 

I see and hear that pressure as I work in the prison. Inmates pressuring newly-booked ones, especially those who are incarcerated for the first time. Asking for favors to be done for them or else…

But I don’t need to go to work just to see all these things…I just need to look outside my home and see and hear how much the things of this world are polluting our minds and heart. It is sad when the prison that is supposed to help the inmates change doesn’t occur. It is sad when Christians should be making changes in this place instead of conforming to it. 

I know…the change should start…

In me…

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!- Psalm 80:19 (ESV)

  

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.- Isaiah 57:15 (ESV)

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.- James 4:8 (ESV)

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.- 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;- Psalm 19:7 (ESV)

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.- Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV)

Wound For Wound

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

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He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. – 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being. – Proverbs 20:30 (NIV)

“I just had to go there,” I told the medical secretary when she received a phone call from one of the units that housed female inmates.

Her concern was evident on her face as we were just told over the radio traffic to clear it…Meaning…No one should use it not unless necessary as they had just closed and limited all the movements. Especially with inmates. Sometimes…it was an unannounced drill. Sometimes…it could be the real thing if the whole Custody staff should be looking for a missing inmate or someone who could have escaped.

The call was urgent. One middle-aged female tried to get down from her top bunk. Unfortunately, she slipped and hit her head and a big pool of blood was on the ground. Someone from the unit advised our secretary she had gotten up already. But my expectation was not to move her especially coming from a fall. She could have hurt something in her spine. I told them I would be on the way and that just make her still for me. No matter what position. No matter where she ended up. Just let her stay there.

Loud crying was what I heard as I ascended the steps that reflected a little of the light the control unit had turned on for me. Lots of nosy stares from all the locked cells were by the windows. The deputies yelled to quiet the murmurs going on from those nosy inmates. I saw a deep gash on the downed inmate on her left side of head. Blood had dried up already on her hair and a big amount on the floor where she landed. She denied any medical issue. Except for a long time use of heroin. But she said that was long time ago. She wouldn’t allow me to put pressure on the wound. I apologized to her. That though it would hurt, I had to. To control the bleeding. As I asked the female deputies to call for an ambulance for me and carry with them the spinal board.

She kept crying. Yelling with pain at times. I told her it was expected that it would hurt a lot. Because the wound was big. But she would be treated soon at the county’s hospital. 

“Just try to relax,” was all I could say. The arrival and departure of the ambulance seemed forever. As I started feeling a little achiness on my right hand from keeping that pressure on her gash. The bleeding did stop. That the EMT’s were able to apply the neck collar and put her on the board. She was calm at that moment. A stark contrast when I first arrived.

I got home in the morning. Exhausted from a very busy night that night. And lack of staff. Considering I was only working lesser hours than the regular employees. I prayed no one would get burned out. I turned on the t.v. Trying to relax and forget the stress at work. Only to turn it off right away. There were no good news at all. 

Bombing in Boston Marathon… Robberies… Rape…Murder…

This must have hurt more than that lady’s wound. How many of us are careless with the affairs of our souls! Even with religion, it can harm someone when it lacks the knowledge of what one should know. The evil nature is in each one of us. Sins that are wounds to our souls. Sins that put us in that wretched conditions. Yet, by wounds, those are also healed…No other way than what Jesus had done.