Today marks 6 months since I self surrendered to the Bureau of Prisons. Speaking with a fellow camper, he told me that those who are assigned to a camp are considered “Out of Custody” like home confinement. Out of custody? But I can’t leave. It would be easy to just walk away I suppose. The consequence is that I would be considered an escaped fugitive and you would find my picture in your local post office. When I was caught or came back on my own it would earn me a 5 year sentence in a high security facility. That does not sound like out of custody, does it?
Life is short, Love is rare and time is easily wasted.
Life is short. My time on this planet is ticking away and I hope to have at least another 20 years before the quality of life deteriorates or I expire. What the system does not fully grasp is that while 24 months is considered a short sentence it is much longer than that when you are older. I graduated high school over 40 years ago. Even as I write that it does not seem real. By ratio, a 20 year sentence to a 25 year old would be equal to a 2 year sentence for a 60 year old in terms of how much time a person has left before they mathematically will die of natural causes. Making the most of every day is something I have come to appreciate. Understanding that life is short and getting shorter is real and sobering.
Love is rare. This statement takes deep meditation to fully understand. When I ponder the amount of hate in the world, the never ending wars, domestic violence, the divorce rate as well as people who choose to stay together but are indifferent towards each other it validates that Love is rare. True Love is being humble enough to say your sorry. It appreciates and embraces the whole person, the differences and all the wrinkles and blemishes. Love is gentle as a rose and love can conquer any war. For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son. Love is sacrifice. Love Transends all space and time and love can make a little child smile.
Time is easy to waste. I dedicate a fair amount of time planning for and contemplating life when I leave here.
Spending time with people I relate to playing chess or ping pong can seem like a waste of time but it is uplifting and fulfills my sprit and my need for human connection. I read every day and take every possible class available here at the camp. I don’t sleep in or take naps often. The way of life for a camper is liberal and it is easy to waste time. Staying up late watching TV and not being productive is cycle many choose. Being here I realized scrolling thru social media (which is not available to campers) takes up chunks of valuable time. I will live life in day tight compartments and while I will keep my iPhone when I return it will be a tool for communication and will not waste time posting my political opinions or commenting on what others are doing. The gifts we are given can be used for good or evil. Being idle (or wasting time) is the devils workshop.
Here is another poem I penned that reinforces my conviction. It is entitled “The Village”
We share what’s for dinner and how we’re having fun.
Bragging and boasting before the day is done.
Look at me I say, My life is so good.
Hiding my feelings, failing to be understood.
Life is so fragile, not a minute to waste.
But I’ll share it on Facebook without any haste.
Just be in the moment and put down your phone.
When you have peace of mind you are never alone.
