Breaking the System

Dear Inner Circle,

My wife Lisa and I once worked in chaplain and youth worker roles in our prison system. In time we both came to understand that the name, “corrections” was somewhat optimistic. Mostly what we saw was a system of incarceration. The pace at which we would celebrate the release of a prisoner and then welcome them back into the system, was frightening, frustrating and discouraging. The fastest return we saw was when a young fellow was released in the morning and locked up again on the evening of the same day.[vc_row columns_on_tablet=”keep” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″][vc_column h_text_align=”left” h_text_align_mobile=”left” v_align=”v-align-middle” use_background=”” width=”1/1″][tm_image image_id=”1324″ link_image=”none” textarea_html_bkg_color=”#ffffff” caption_type=””][/tm_image][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row columns_on_tablet=”keep” padding_top=”50″ padding_bottom=”50″][vc_column h_text_align=”left” h_text_align_mobile=”left” v_align=”v-align-middle” use_background=”” width=”1/1″][tm_textblock textarea_html_bkg_color=”#ffffff”]We thought we could do more to help and so we started to accept people from the prison system to live with us at home. The authorities took a dim view of our optimism and we lost our roles in the system. We were both willing to bet all we had on an attempt to do better, and to see young people making their way to a more satisfying future than the ever-increasing periods of incarceration that they were experiencing at the time. Soon enough everything we owned that was valuable was stolen. Although we were initially shocked, there was something quite liberating about having nothing to protect. Some of the people we housed felt sorry for us and delivered some really nice, new household goods to us. Reflecting on those acts of kindness, I don’t think we ever saw any receipts for these items. We not only housed young people but on one occasion, we “grounded” one. We suspected that a young fellow who was staying at our house was sneaking out to visit a neighbour at night, causing some alarm and concern in the street. He was the only bloke to ever stage a “break out” of our place. Our best intentions to keep him within our household were feeble and we learned that it takes a whole community to make a home. Our task became one of working with our whole street so that people could be welcomed to a neighbourhood and accepted for what might be instead of being judged by their past behavior. We take the same approach at Wayside, we really don’t care about anyone’s history. We’re content to learn history as a result of knowing the person – who usually tells us their stories as a measure of how far they have come. At Wayside we believe the future is a stronger indication of a person than their past.

When walking through our community café I’m often invited by a lovely man to play a game of chess. I come from a family of keen chess players but somehow, I missed that little bit of DNA in my upbringing. I usually say something like, “I can’t play chess” and often his return is, “You know that’s not the point”. This lovely guy is inviting me into life and one day soon, I’ll set aside the things that seem so pressing and spend some time enjoying his company and allowing him to humiliate me in a game.

There have been a few cameras around Wayside over the past few months, and I’m pleased to say that next Monday 20 August at 8pm Australian Story will go to air on ABC TV featuring myself and Graham and our shared story about the transition of the CEO/ Pastor role at Wayside. Make sure you tune in. You may have also been watching the Filthy Rich and Homeless series on SBS TV over the last two nights, with tonight’s finale going to air at 8.30pm. If you want to do more for people sleeping rough, Wayside Chapel will be hosting two public forums to discuss issues raised by the show and how you can take action. The forums will be held at Wayside Chapel Kings Cross on Monday 20 August, and Wayside Bondi Community Service Centre on Tuesday 21 August. Check our Facebook events for Kings Cross and Bondi for more details. Everyone is welcome.

Thanks for being part of our Inner Circle.

Jon

PS. Don’t miss out on a spot at our Celebration Sunday event to honour Graham Long’s contribution to Wayside. Sydney’s best gospel choirs – the Café at the Gate of Salvation and the Honeybees – are combining forces to put on a joyous performance. This event is for you, our Inner Circle, and we would love to see you there. Places are limited so please RSVP here.

Jon Owen
Pastor & CEO
Wayside Chapel