1. Jim’s
Story – Another Miracle
By Rev. Murray Lincoln – Pastor and
Volunteer in Peterborough, Ontario
I don’t know where to
start with this story. It has many parts. It is one of a special God
designed miracle and God has given me the privilege to watch it unfold
in front of me. It is kind of like watching a rose unfold – like slow
motion photography.
18 years ago a man was
sentenced to prison because of foul and ugly crime that he had
committed. He deserved every part of the sentence he received. The few
details I know show me that he is very guilty. His first name is Jim.
A few months ago the
Peterborough Community Chaplaincy was contacted by a team of
Correctional Services Canada staff members, asking if we could help a
man that has cancer. The prognosis was terminal cancer with a just a
few months to live. The question that Dan Haley and his volunteers were
asked was, “Do you have any way to help a man that is dieing of cancer?
Do you have a place for him and people that could help in the community
so he doesn’t have to die in prison?”
What was needed before
any our community help was to be given or received was a greater
miracle. The Parole Board of Canada needed to grant a Parole on
compassionate grounds and they needed to do it soon. We, as volunteers,
began praying about what might happen. The more we prayed the more
excited we became. Also as time went on it seemed that it was less
likely to happen on time – because this is never done. It has never
happened before to our knowledge.
But God had another
plan. After an amazing series of meetings and much paper work it all
started happening in front of our very eyes. Paper work that normally
took weeks happened in hours. People that normally would not or could
not be moved, were deeply moved and acted in amazing ways to help Jim
and the army of volunteers that would be there to offer care and
encouragement. There is a hidden staff of people that care on the
inside and the outside of the system of prison. I saw a face of
“corrections” that is never written about in newspapers or encouraged on
television. I have seen their heart and soul. What I have seen is
kindness and respect.
Last week Dan Haley, our
Peterborough Community Chaplain, received a telephone call that Jim had
received a Full Parole. He was released on Friday. He is now in the
hospital and will soon be admitted to the palliative care unit.
Today Dan and I picked
up Jim at the hospital. We had lunch together and then went to look at
the cemetery where he will be buried. Following that we brought him up
to our church to show him where the funeral will be held.
As he sat down in our
church he was almost in tears as he said, “This is beautiful!” I was
humbled.
You have to remember
that up to two weeks ago he was dieing alone in a gray cell with one
small window. There are no decorations on the walls – just gray paint.
I have been in a hospital cell in that Institution – it is bleak at its
best. Jim described over lunch how he had sat with a number of men in
that same hospital as they passed away. It was hard for him knowing he
would die there too.
After we left the church
sanctuary we sat in my office and talked about God. In a very simple
way Jim bowed his head with me and prayed. As I lead him in prayer I
felt prompted to lead Jim to ask God to help the Victims of his crime
and to bless them. Jim wept deeply as he prayed out loud and asked for
forgiveness. It was another miracle… done in the special way that God
does these things.
As I said earlier, this
story has many parts and it is hard to tell all of them at one time.
Each time Dan shares a part of it something new comes to the surface.
Last Friday, back at the
federal institution, Dan brought his vehicle inside to pick Jim up. As
they wheeled Jim out of the hospital men from the hospital lined up to
shake his hand as he left. As he rolled on through the prison walk ways
his friends from the Senior’s Group lined up to say goodbye. Dan shared
that it was as if the hearse was moving down the road and people were
stopping to pay their respects – all saying goodbye to a friend they
would not see again. A very moving experience for Dan and myself as I
listened.
Are there concerns and
difficulties yet to go through? Yes. Is it all over? No.
There are victim’s
issues, concerns and deep anger still very much in the community.
People do not forget easy and are still hurting deeply. The victims
will hurt for their lifetime.
But - I am watching
justice being balanced with mercy. I am watching a work of God’s great
grace. It’s another miracle. There is help for everyone.
Nine Weeks later….
It has been a long
journey. Today we committed Jim’s body to the ground. I read all the
traditional words that a minister reads at the funeral service and said
all the correct words at the graveside. We returned to the church hall
to have food and fellowship with the family that is left behind. Not
many were there. His father and his daughter as well as Jim’s
grandchildren sat with some of the volunteers that became his friends in
these last weeks. All of us cared and had felt the pain with him
deeply.
In the last weeks Dan
described the day-by-day turn of events that took place.
One day Jim asked if he
could just go to a store to buy something. He asked if he could do it
without an escort. He didn’t need anything but just wanted to do
something that free people do every day. This simple request was
honoured and the pleasure that Jim knew was deep.
Jim was surrounded by a
team of caring people. Dan shared how Chaplain Beryl Orok played such
an important part in Jim’s life both inside and outside of the
Institution. This kind of CSC personnel gives the gigantic system a
heart. Beryl is special. Along with Beryl is Pam Wright, a chapel
volunteer at the Institution, completing the care team for Jim. Meeting
the two of these ladies lets you understand the word “caring” in a new
way. They were there until the very end often traveling a distance to
sit with Jim those long days at the hospital.
Jim’s mobility decreased
as time went by. His times of leaving the hospital stopped after the
7th week. He was just too weak.
A quiet miracle was
taking place during this period. Jim relationship with his father had
been almost non-existent over the years. The crime committed plus a
very poor beginning together created a chasm so large it was hard to
imagine. Dan and Jim discussed this problem and Jim made the decision
that he would like to begin the journey towards his father before his
time was up.
Jim and his dad came
together. The first steps were difficult but the result was solid. His
father visited him a number of times as the end approached. At the
funeral Dan expressed Jim’s words to his family on his behalf. Dan told
them how much Jim loved his dad. Jim had never been able to say the
words personally – even to the end.
Jim’s daughter became a
special part of the support efforts that our group offered. Helping her
work through the finality of her father’s life was very important. She
reached out for help. Bringing Jim’s grandchildren into the mix was
part of the healing as well. She witnessed genuine care so did her
kids.
The day that Jim died,
Dan and Pam were at his side. The last thing that he said to them in a
whisper was, “Thank you for everything.”.., and then he slipped away.
Addendum…
Though this story
focuses strongly on the ex-offender’s life and his passing. Mention
should be made of the care and attention that was made to give the
victim of Jim’s crime reassurance. When the victim was informed of
Jim’s release the fear she experienced was overwhelming. Through
regular and immediate contact, by the victim to our area manager of the
parole office, a sense of safety was established. There were at times
many calls each day. Each time Dan would transport Jim from the
hospital for a community visit he would notify the area manager of where
they were going. Every effort was made to keep the victim fully informed
of this movement to show the respect and due care needed.
Time will tell if the
victim ever finds peace. Every effort was made to provide care and
love. In her mind the man that had committed the horrific crime was
gigantic in stature – a powerful and ruthless individual. She would
never know that he was a shell of the person she once new. He was a
broken man.
Is the work completed
with the funeral? The answer is no. Within weeks we have received
another proposal for possible palliative care on the “outside” for
another man dieing of cancer “inside”. And the response to this
includes a very resounding, “Yes! We can do this if we are given the
opportunity.”
Rev. Murray Lincoln,
Senior Pastor of Northview Pentecostal Church, Peterborough, Ontario and
happy volunteer in the community.
Contact him at
murray.lincoln@gmail.com
2. Tom’s Story
Tom had spent many years in prison – thirty-five to be exact and now he
was free. His journey was over. On April 29 he was released from Bath
Correctional Institution on “full parole” to die, to die from inoperable
cancer. He had simply requested that; “I be allowed to pass my final
days outside of prison.
Tom came for a few short weeks and then he
died, but that time was memorable – memorable for him for putting
closure to his life and memorable to those who shared that time.
On a bright Saturday morning in May (28th) a small group
gathered in the common room area of the new transition home of
Peterborough Community Chaplaincy, aptly named “New Beginnings”, to
commemorate the end of Tom’s life journey. On a small table was draped
an autographed Major League ball jersey held down on one end by a
tasteful planter basket from Tom’s friends back in prison – and on the
other end a plain, black, rectangular, plastic box containing the
remains of Tom. A framed collage of pictures leaned against the table.
During the informal proceedings Scriptures were read, stories were told
and prayers were uttered. It was a time of laughter and tears and
consolation. We learned a little about who Tom was. We learned he was
a private man. We heard about his delight at receiving an autographed
Blue Jays Ball Jersey from Jay’s Chaplain, Dave Fisher. We found out
Tom had an angel – an angel named Louise. An angel who had come to stay
with her uncle to the end – however long that was.
She related details
of the three weeks she was constantly by his side in the Palliative
Ward. She told of how amazed she was of the support she and Tom
received – from Chaplaincy, nurses and doctors, friends and even from
family members of other patients in the Palliative Care Unit. In the
end she said this had been the best three weeks of her life. At the
end of the sharing time Tom’s favourite song, “Stand By Me” was played.
When the Chaplaincy Director closed the memorial he said that what we
had heard today again confirmed that we were doing the right thing
During the time Tom was in Palliative Care in the Hospital the Chair of
the Chaplaincy Board, Pastor Murray and Chaplain DanHaley ministered
spiritually to Tom. In that time he was able to pray and ask God for
forgiveness for the harm that he had done to others. We believe he died
in peace. In the short time of four weeks we came to know something of
the man who was Tom. He was like “us” – he had made mistakes; he felt
remorse; he could be crabby; he loved; and he had friends - friends who
cared for him. He wasn’t one of “them”; he was one of “us”. He was,
like us, a man who deserved respect and deserved to die with dignity.
It was a privilege to support him.
A few days after the memorial service
in Peterborough Tom’s niece sent the following letter.
*********************************************************************
From Louise from Gracefield
Q.C.; June 2005
Dear Dan and the
Peterborough Community Chaplaincy Team;
When
Uncle Tommy asked me to help him in this process, never in my mind did I
think that it would turn out like this. Once I got the call from Dan
Haley I said, “Okay here goes”. I had prepared my weekend trip figuring
on being back home by Tuesday at the latest, because he wasn’t doing too
well and was going downhill fast. We didn’t think he would make it
through the weekend. I had also prepared in my mind what it would be
like for an “ex-con” and his niece here in a hospital, waiting to die.
I thought it would be just the three of us, Dan, and I and Uncle Tommy
going through this event in his life. Boy was I wrong.
This man was so
loved and respected – you cannot believe how much. He had friends
inside thinking and worrying about him and he and I also made new
ones. For the short time he had, he left me with new friends for
life. It was unbelievable that we had so much support around us. This
was not what we expected.
I will always be
grateful to Dan Haley and his team - also John Leeman from Lifeline for
being able to fulfill Tommie’s dying wish to die a free man, with
dignity. Now don’t get me wrong, what he did in his past life wasn’t
right – taking someone’s life (a husband, a dad) but I also know where
he comes from. His life was tough. He started stealing milk and eggs
when he was six years old so his sisters would be able to eat breakfast
– from then on he hung around with the wrong crowd. He suffered with
the killing all his life. I know he can’t undo all his wrongs, but if
he could he would.
These past three
weeks have been great; being able to see his smile and get hugs will be
remembered and embraced in my heart forever. We were able to discuss
everything he wanted me to do, which is exactly what I did and am still
doing. This man hadn’t been eating for six weeks and was also refusing
his meds. I honestly believe he wanted to suffer for the suffering he
did unto others.
The nurses at the
hospital were great; I don’t know how they do it – dealing with this all
the time. There sure are a lot of angels on that floor. I never saw
anything negative it was all positive. We were treated like family,
like royalty.
Thanks to Darren for
getting in touch with David Fisher, the Chaplain for the “Toronto Blue
Jays”. He received a jersey signed by Roy Halladay. Boy, did that make
his day! “It’s a pleasure to meet you sir”, he said. You should have
seen this man’s eyes and his smile. – just like a little kid in the
candy store.
Well he hung on for
three weeks - I’m sure it was all due to these people and his friends.
I shall remember and be grateful to them for the rest of my life for
having crossed their paths. Even the other staff in the hospital were
greeting us with respect. I was ignorant thinking wrongly and judging
people without giving them a chance. I ended up doing the same as
others do, “judging”. I’m so sorry about that and am working on that
particular problem of mine. I just wish we could all take the time to
think and reflect before judging others. I saw and learned a lot during
these three weeks.
Again a big
“thank-you” to Dan’s team and also the wives for their patience and
understanding – without this it sure would be hard for them to do what
they do. To the nurses; again thank-you for making this experience
easier for us to deal with.
This experience has
marked me for life. If Uncle Tommy asked me again to do this, with what
I know now, I wouldn’t hesitate – my answer would still be “Yes!” – even
though I went on an emotional roller-coaster ride.
Sincerely,
Louise
