I Choose Hope

  One Way TDCJ Is Failing I'm certainly not a constant critic of the "system." Admittedly, I am not a fan of the prison system as a whole but I was ignorant at best, apathetic at worst, when I walked the streets of the outside world as to how it functions and how it fails. The system is working to improve itself, and I wish it would seek counsel for improvements from those of us who reside within its walls, but the system is so expansive and diverse, their is not a "one-size-fits-all" solution to the issues within. One of the opportunities afforded to me while I live in the razor wire is to serve in the Christian Church community. Every Saturday a group of men load up and offer a Christian service for those who are confined to Administrative Segregation, or more currently known as "Restrictive Housing." The inmate led ministry team spends over six hours moving equipment to each wing in order to ensure there is an opportunity for those men to have ...

  Playing To Win "As long as God wakes you up, that means He ain't through with you yet. And if He wakes you up, you got a shot to correct it and get it right." -Steve Harvey The first time I met him, his bald head and skinny frame made me wonder if he was eating at all. His eyes seemed to walk the fine line between disconnect and broken with tears constantly pushing themselves for freedom, but somehow he managed to maintain a functional level of conversation. I didn't know him yet, but my heart broke for him and so I cautiously engaged in the same manner one might approach a scared and shivering puppy cowering fearful in the corner of an abandoned house. He had to be at least 18-years old to be in this prison multipurpose room but he could have easily been part of any high school marching band. "Are you doing okay?" I entered into the conversation with my own trepidation. His eyes snapped to mine and too quickly he shared that his grandmother had just pa...

How To Fight An Invisible Enemy The first question my family asked every time I had the chance to use the phone or get a visit was, "Are you safe?" My safety was paramount to my family and I am certain that my mother lost sleep during my first few years of incarceration. I was in my early 20s and knew very little about the world and even less about prison. I was not particularly vulnerable, per se, as I was in decent shape, had played football in high school, and was 6'2" but I was not street smart and had a tendency to trust people way too easily. My main fight would not be a physical one, it would end up being internal monsters that I have had to battle regularly in order to make it inside these prison walls. Over the years I have noticed that almost every inmate battles at least one of three distinct monsters and oftentimes these invisible enemies move so stealthily that unless we are actively looking for them we lose the war without even realizing we are in a ...