Greetings peeps! Will and I are attempting to use our blogs as a space not only to reflect on our own experiences, but to be in discussion with each other. What follows is my response to Will's latest entry from 2/16/10: incarceratedgrace.blogspot.com
Just reading Will's entry from today caused my heart to beat rapidly and my stomach to churn while I tried to take slow, even breaths. It takes me back to a conversation I had with my husband in the kitchen last week. "Why in the world," said David, "do we kill someone in retribution for killing someone?" "Instead of one life," he went on "we are taking two."
Earlier today, I was thinking about next Tuesday and hoping I could visit Jackson with Will. Then, I realized that we won't be able to visit next Tuesday. The whole place will be on lock-down because of the scheduled execution of Melbert Ray Ford. I can't even force my brain to think about this reality for an extended period of time...it breaks my heart and causes me deep anguish.
This week in theology we are discussing theories of atonement. I personally like the theories that capitalize on Jesus' violent death on the cross. Many theologians and some of my classmates don't like to "glorify" the violence of the cross and crucifixion, or as some theologians put it, "divine child abuse". These theories (Christus Victor, Satisfaction) give me hope...hope that God in Jesus Christ has defeated the evil for violence once and for all and that one day we will no longer have to repay violence for violence.
I'm going to be sending up some prayers for Mr. Ford this week and I hope you will, too. Pray that violence will end once and for all...pray for the hope and peace, and pray for all of those anguishing hearts out there weeping for the violence we perpetuate through our prison systems.
Just reading Will's entry from today caused my heart to beat rapidly and my stomach to churn while I tried to take slow, even breaths. It takes me back to a conversation I had with my husband in the kitchen last week. "Why in the world," said David, "do we kill someone in retribution for killing someone?" "Instead of one life," he went on "we are taking two."
Earlier today, I was thinking about next Tuesday and hoping I could visit Jackson with Will. Then, I realized that we won't be able to visit next Tuesday. The whole place will be on lock-down because of the scheduled execution of Melbert Ray Ford. I can't even force my brain to think about this reality for an extended period of time...it breaks my heart and causes me deep anguish.
This week in theology we are discussing theories of atonement. I personally like the theories that capitalize on Jesus' violent death on the cross. Many theologians and some of my classmates don't like to "glorify" the violence of the cross and crucifixion, or as some theologians put it, "divine child abuse". These theories (Christus Victor, Satisfaction) give me hope...hope that God in Jesus Christ has defeated the evil for violence once and for all and that one day we will no longer have to repay violence for violence.
I'm going to be sending up some prayers for Mr. Ford this week and I hope you will, too. Pray that violence will end once and for all...pray for the hope and peace, and pray for all of those anguishing hearts out there weeping for the violence we perpetuate through our prison systems.
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