Jail House Rock (2004-01-04)

 “Prospero año y Felicidad”, the singers rocked on. The crowd chimed in, fueled by the lively guitars, violin and flute. The singers went out to shake hands with and hug the audience. The crowd and the singers cried with tears of joy. The final words of the last song slowly faded, replaced by a roomful of expectant silence. “That’s it?” The crowd demanded, “More! More!” Since there were so many shows scheduled that evening, an extra number would be stretching the time, but the singers decided to do it anyway. The crowd went wild and started dancing, especially the Spanish speaking. Oh, it was a great evening.

This was not a rock concert, but Christmas caroling. This took place not in City Hall, but in SeaTac Federal Detention Center. Their cheers and tears were not just about the great event, but also about being touched and comforted by Jesus, when society or even families and friends have forgotten them.

This year, 35 of us from the Heart Renewal Prison Ministry Team went on December 21, 2003, the biggest number compared to previous years. We had to get special permission from Chaplain for so many of us, but it was worth it. Chaplain approved 35 and God exactly provided 35, no more and no less. An inmate said that seeing all of us was a great encouragement to them. A short lady was so excited to see us that she jumped up to hug us. Another inmate whose hair was still wet did not want to miss the chance to come out and greet us.

“When nothing else could help,” we sang this untraditional carol, “love lifted me…” An inmate could not explain to her child that she could not come back home for Christmas because of some extra complication. Some inmates were about to be released, but they were more anxious than happy because they had to meet rejection face to face. An inmate’s brother was murdered, but she could not even attend the funeral. There’s usually nothing else from us that could help the inmates in these situations, nor was it appropriate for us to do anything, but Jesus’ love and hope lifted up the inmates and the volunteers at the same time. When nothing else could help, love lifted me. Tears of hope and longing started to drop on shriveled hearts. For those big guys who were not used to showing signs of weakness, they used both hands to tightly hold our tiny Chinese hands. A rough black man said, “I understand the special message God is trying to send me tonight.” Jesus, Thank you for lifting us up. 

“Is there room in Your house for a sinner Lord?” The Seattle Chinese Alliance Church choir sang, “Is there room for a sinner like me?” Is there forgiveness in a jail house like this? These are the questions that rock the jail house this Christmas evening. Cindy, the choir director, noticed a shy woman by the railing on the upper level. After the songs, Cindy walked up to her, but the inmate backed off and went back to a room. Cindy followed and saw that she was crying. Cindy took her into her arms. No words needed to be exchanged. Yet, a lot was exchanged.

“Hear the thanks from a sinner who's forgiven. Lord, hear the thanks from a sinner set free. Cause you healed my sin and took me in, and now there's room for me. Cause you healed my sin and took me in, and now there's room for me. There's room in Your house for me. There's room for me!”

At first, Chaplain thought that, given three and a half hours, we could only took the message to seven units maximum. The inmates not on the visit list had been very disappointed. Since the transitions were so efficient with the help of the warden Office, the Religious Department and the Education Department, after the sixth unit, Chaplain offered us the choices to finish at the seventh unit or to go for all ten. Our choice was obvious. When we came to the added units, the inmates and officers were in a state of both disbelief and elation.

Our legs were sore, the handouts ran out, and the guitars went slightly out of tune, but our voices rock on: There's room in Your house for me. There's room for me! Jesus definitely has enough room for all ten units of more than 600 inmates in FDC. Perhaps, as Chaplain puts it, for this very evening, the jail house was sanctified and turned into the House of the Lord which lifts up the broken hearted and has room for sinners like me.  

Peter