As I sat in the circle, I wondered whether it was best to close my eyes to pray. I was, after all, in a room in that felt like a bunker in a corner of the Cook County Jail with about a dozen pre-trial detainees. Some of these individuals have been in jail for weeks, others for months. All awaiting the outcome of their trials.
I learned about this program from a friend who has been volunteering there once a week for the past few years. Since they require a weekly commitment, I had been hesitant, but the Holy Spirit kept nudging me that this was a place where I could serve. I plan to be at the jail each Monday morning as a way to engage in restorative justice in our community.
I have found my participation to be both an unmooring and a grounding experience. Unmooring because I have never experienced anything like the array of gates and guns I need to cross to do ministry. Grounding because I have found that Centering Prayer connects me, not only to all of humanity through the detainees, but to all of creation.
If you want to learn more about the practice of Centering Prayer being used within the criminal justice system, the film Holding Still is available on YouTube. It focuses on a diverse group of men speaking candidly about their years-long journey practicing Centering Prayer while serving time at Folsom Prison. They share their stories while highlighting the power of the practice to heal trauma and transform toxic shame.
Please pray for those who I come into contact with, and for all within our justice system.
Peace,
Matthew