I'll preface this post by saying that I didn't commit a crime or anything like that. I chose to go to jail tonight with a few of my closest friends. We sing in an ensemble called "Vox Jubilante" and we do things differently from your average singing group.
We like to go where others don't even think about going. We went to the VA Hospital in Manchester, NH last month to welcome home some of the soldiers from Iraq. Check out my blog from that visit.
But this was different......we went to jail. Why you ask? Well remember Jesus said "I was in prison and you visited me"?
I wanted to have pictures but we were not allowed to have a camera there. We were asked to come with no cell phones, no pocketbooks, just our license or photo ID. We checked in and were lead down a hall into a room where we could deposit our coats then into a tiny chapel big enough for about 30 chairs, a makeshift altar, some banners on the concrete block wall, a cross and a beautiful piano.
Seemed odd that with the little space they were given for this chapel there in the front of these 30 chairs in a space about 16 x 8 sat this piano?
We were told that the men that were coming to this chapel were from all walks of life and in the jail for various crimes some carrying heavy sentences and others for short sentences. They had one thing in common, besides being in jail, they decided, on their own, to sign up to attend this concert (if you want to call it that).
We warmed up and then it was time for the prisoners to come in. We began to sing a song while they filed in called "There is a River". It seemed right to do this as these men came in and sat down. It seemed to set the mood and keep us focused. It is uncomfortable going to jail whether you are an inmate or "just visiting".
As we went through our program there were all kinds of things going on all around. We could hear doors opening and closing loudly - not wooden doors but steel doors. I was thinking when singing "how awful to endure this noise day in and day out".
Several guards hovered just outside the chapel doors keeping watch. Can you imagine that everything you do, every move you make is being watched?
We kept singing and some of these men who at first were joking and making fun began to change right before our eyes. There were some who began to sing along, some smiled, some were solemn and a few were visibly moved to the point of tears.
The piano - the music - it changes you - it has an effect - music is a powerful medium.
When we ended with a song called "Everybody Hurts" each pair of eyes were focused on us and I could see each man listening, knowing that for the rest of today and tomorrow and for however long they are there they will endure that awful sound of steel doors slamming.......
I hope we gave some hope to them. I hope they feel a little less alone now then when they filed into that chapel. I hope the songs go with them.
I pray the music makes a difference. Perhaps that is why the piano is there, in that chapel, at the Rockingham County Jail.
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