Reflective Thoughts by Chandra Adams

The other day I met a gentleman at the gym, for anonymity sake we'll call him "Robert". I had noticed him the day before when he shuffled across the floor of the pool area and entered the hot tub. His physic was lean but showed signs of age. His shoulders were drooped forward, his swim shorts belted high, and his gait slow.  It wasn't my norm, but on this particular Wednesday I had chosen to take advantage of the hot tub after my water aerobics class. In walked Robert. Slowly he descended, holding tightly to the rail. We sat in silence for just a moment or two before he began to ask me questions. At first they were general, non intrusive questions about the water aerobics class he had observed earlier in the week. He liked the music. But then he began to reveal details about himself, unsolicited. I learned he was 79 years old, just about to turn 80, lived alone, and had been coming to this gym for over 14 years. I would have guessed much older, considering the 80

It was 1992 when I walked into my first women’s prison, a requirement of my ministerial studies. I had no idea what to expect and certainly didn’t think I had much to offer these women, many my “senior” who clearly had experienced more “life” than I. Later that evening as the worship service came to a close the women were invited to seek a volunteer out for prayer.  One by one, each woman came asking for prayer not for herself, but for her children. I was undone. Until that very moment, I hadn’t seen the women in white for who they were, mothers, daughters, and sisters. But now I could see them. Their beauty and their wounds. “Blessed are they that see the beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” by Pissarro. Prison ministry is not sexy! Well that’s what we say about something that is not easy to sell or promote. It’s not a product everyone wants, or thinks they need, and it doesn’t pull on the heart strings like child trafficking, making funding, and ulti

A few years ago I was witness to what could easily be compared to Jesus speaking to his disciples... wisdom was being imparted, disputes being settled, and wrong thinking being confronted, all in the name of ministry leadership.  Where was I?  In the education room, a makeshift chapel, along with 50 women who are serving in ministry under the Chaplain of a mega church behind prison bars. This motley group of 50 are serving on the setup & sound team, intercessory prayer team, and/or the choir. Each week they meet for practice and as time permits, avail themselves to the spiritual influence of Chaplain (name withheld for privacy and security reasons). Why was I there? I have been volunteering at this Unit, on and off, for over 20 years, but a few years ago the Lord invited me to return for a deeper work. When I met Chaplain it was much like what I imagine it was for Elizabeth when she greeted Mary, and the baby leapt. Chaplain kindly referred to me as Esther, after ou