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Caleb walks the hall to sit at the side of the man with Hepatitis C, the one everybody expected to die years ago.
He keeps fighting, keeps on living, this feisty old man, and Caleb — arms inked, eyes tender, smile ready — listens to the man talk like he doesn’t have another place in the world to be, though sometimes it does take him longer to visit than it should.
And then he hears about it. He’ll sure hear about it when he shows up to the man’s room.
Caleb is stunned by the way his friend is old timer and kid at once.
“I read today that if you harbor hatred in your heart, it’s like you’re killing somebody. Why didn’t you tell me, Caleb?! I killed a whole bunch of people today and I didn’t even know it!”
Caleb — this 14-year-old boy turned man behind bars, locked up for gang banging and who all knows what — he’s not made for deals and death as it turns out, but for hospice care. For listening to stories and sitting in questions, for giving comfort and making family of lonely, dying men.
Caleb has almost earned his hospice care giver’s certificate so he can provide care when he’s on the outside, in another seven years. He’s a man remade from the inside, and it’s his thanks and presence, his heart and very soul an overflow.
It’s Caleb’s act of worship to sit in the cell with this old man, both of them living out days marked by calendar pages while reaching for a world without bars.
* Caleb is not this man’s real name, but he is a real person. I met him last year on my first visit to the Oregon State Penitentiary, which I wrote about here. Today’s writing is inspired by Caleb’s story as shared with me on my visit to the Pen last week. If you pray, would you please lift this man up? If not, hold a loving place for him, would you? He’s struggling to persevere and needs continually renewing hope. Thank you, friends.
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I’m joining with the Five Minute Friday community begun and inspired by Lisa-Jo Baker. Today, we are linking up together at (in)courage. Join us there? Today’s writing began with the prompt: WORSHIP.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Dear Ashley
What an interesting gentleman this Caleb is! Dolly if you think Caleb will allow me, please ask him and sent me an address where I can sent letters to him on a regular basis. I would love to honor Pappa this way.
Blessings XX
Mia
Thank you, Mia. As I told you by email, I am checking to see what the rules are regarding contact. I truly appreciate your heart to bring encouragement to the hurting. You are so dear.
Oh Ashley, thank you so much for sharing this! To me it seems there is little quite as beautiful as beauty that rises from darkness or sorrow. Here the beauty is still dripping with the sorrow. Dear soul! I’ll hold a loving spot and pray for this man!
You said it so well, Mama — “beauty still dripping with sorrow.” Yes, that’s it. Thank you for praying for “Caleb.”
Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing this story. God’s redemption is a beautiful mystery, and I’m sure Caleb understands that deep. What a blessing that he now ministers in those cells, even as he awaits his release. Beautifully written. Blessings.
Yes, Jacqui, those in Caleb’s situations must have deep, deep roots, and I am amazed by the depth of caring that happens from the hands of these men I’ve met — not only to one another, but to those on the outside through fundraising efforts, etc. Redemption is just about the most beautiful thing I know.
Praying, and I will continue to pray for both of them daily. This touched me so much for reasons i won’t share here, but it was so powerful and brought me to tears. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your prayers! I cannot tell you how much this means. It sounds like you know pieces of this pain in some shape and form, so I thank you for your compassion overflowing to words on their behalf. Bless you.
This is beautiful. Caleb has a ministry even as he is ministered to. I love how God uses those of us who are broken to bring healing to others. Great story.
Isn’t that so true, AJ? I heard recently that our purpose is where our passion and pain meet, and I’ve seen & known this to be the case again and again. I’m thankful for Caleb’s ministry. It is powerful.
This is the kind of worship God asks for- the kind that makes His heart jump, I believe. I’m adding these two men to my prayer lists and am proud of your courage in entering into their stories, too, dear friend.
I appreciate you praying for them, dear Alicia. I couldn’t agree with you more.
Sweet Ashley… you know I am praying for ‘Caleb’ and rejoicing with you for all the Lord has done and will do in and through him! Amazing story… powerful… full of grace! Then again – I have come to expect no less whenever I visit you here!
Karrilee, thank you for your prayers, friend! I know they are providing “Caleb” a much needed boost of new strength.
Dear Ashley
For some reason Caleb reminds me of Zacchaeus! I want to ask you a favor, but please feel free to say no if you feel led to. I would love to write to Caleb on a regular basis and would appreciate it if you could find out if it is permissible and email me a postal adress where I can mail my letters. If you think it better I send them to you, please let me know. I just feel that He needs more than just prayer at the moment; he needs Jesus with some skin and bones! I am quite housebound at the moment and would love to serve Jesus in this small way!
Much love and sweet blessings, my precious sister
Mia
Hi Ashley,
Praying for Caleb and the man with Hep C..may God continue to give him hope and grace to persevere…thank you for sharing his story.
Thank you for praying, Dolly. This united voice of prayer on these men’s behalf means so much.
I loved the story of Caleb and I love you. Grams
Sent from my iPad
Thank you. I love you, Grandma.
Oh, precious friend. This story seeps into my soul. I’ve been thinking of these men since yesterday afternoon, praying for them, thankful for their stories and redemption. I love this ‘Caleb’s’ heart and pray God holds it and protects it through the years that I know will seek to wear it down behind bars. And I love your heart, as I always do, how you seek out these stories and the beauty of others that may go unnoticed or untold. Thank you, dear one.
Thankful for redemption and for this chorus of prayers. Thank you, as always, for you.
What an act of worship! This is such a beautiful and important story. Thank you for sharing. I’m praying for “Caleb” too, that God will give him strength to persevere and that more opportunities to be Jesus in the flesh will be afforded him, both behind bars and after he’s released.
Amen, Osheta! Thank you.
Thank you for stopping by my place for FMF and leading me here. This was a beautiful and powerful. I will pray for “Caleb,” Bless you for sharing this story.
So nice to see you here, too, Beth. Thank you for lifting up Caleb!
What a beautiful story of God using one person’s pain & bondage to minister & care for others….may it be a lesson to each of us! Thanks for a piece of sharing “Caleb’s” story with your readers friend!
So true. That any would allow places of bondage and pain to bless are such evidence to me of the wonder working power of God.