Thanks so much for writing! OUCH. Since you hear so many put-downs in prison, I would like to shower you with some genuine praise, if it counts for anything: Your writing style is splendid! It's very clear and flows well. The expanded vocabulary is a nice touch as well. Great job forgiving this man and praying for him! You truly are a child of God. Jesus loved even those who persecuted him, and you're emulating that behavior spot-on. We all make mistakes, and perhaps that guard was simply having a bad day. Even if he continually makes them, and it gets really tough, remember the forgiving and loving power of Christ. As long as you remain morally perfect, you will have done nothing wrong. Like Socrates said, you can't hurt a good man (viz. Apology). And where there is goodness, there is excellence of the soul; and where there is excellence, there is proper functioning of the mind and happiness (viz. Republic). Only One knows the eternal destiny of all, so we shouldn't waste time on thoughts like that, you know? They are bound to pop up involuntarily, but we ought to block them out and focus on more productive thoughts. Sorry I didn't have time to get to your questions, but I'm exhausted right now. Keep up the good work, my man! Can't wait to read the next work! --Calhoun25
I really enjoyed reading this post. You're absolutely right that the past can't change but that people CAN. This is true in every aspect of life, but for some reason people choose to only apply it to certain people or certain situations. It doesn't seem fair or logical to not also apply this thinking for those who are imprisoned.
David, Thank you for responding to my letter so quickly! My mom has postponed coming to visit until the Spring. I'll write you a full letter soon (it's half done at the moment).
I don't really know what to say but I'm doing really wel I'm out of my residential treatment center and living with a friend. I'm finishing my senior year of high school, although its hard to get there every day haha I just got a job working with kids at a day care kind of thing. And I'm all around doing really well. Recently me will and Yash have been visiting the family, mom, Brandon,Justin, uncle John and I met Jon Jon uncle Johns son for the first time:) we've been going up there more often lately and it honestly feels like no times been lost. Whenever I visit mom she bring out some of the old pictures, which a couple of them had you in it but I learned a lot about our family. I am very interested in finding out more about you but sometimes when I read you're posts they don't fully make sense to me. Just because you tend to use big words haha. I always like seeing all you're artwork though. I feel like what I've gotten from reading your posts is that I'm a lot like you in the fact that we both have very strong opinions haha:) I saw a picture of you when you were little and were literally almost identical. Anyways can't wait to hear back from you. Hope all is well. -destiny
I am not Izzy. When I was asking around about you I ended up searching the prison's website and saw what you were charged with.
Izzy knows about it now also because we are still in touch and it came up when I was asking about you and then I told him the results of my search. I do not know what he thinks of it all because I know how close you two were and I hated being the bearer of such terrible news and didn't ask how he felt.
I saw photos of both of your sons on a networking website because I'm in touch with Jennifer also.
I know Japanese because I lived there for five years, it is tough.
Anyway, I think it best to end this correspondence with that. I wish I could offer you words of support, but I am not in a position to do so for obvious reasons.
I agree with you about the manufactured criticsm of Miley Cyrus, but aren't your perceptions of Taylor Swift from the mass media also? After all, we only have their reporting of the meaning behind her actions and songs.
This was an incredible and very touching read, i felt honoured to be transcribing for you. You are clearly a very intelligent man, with a great knowledge of life. Edwards story is a very sad but i'm sure extremely common one ,all over the world.. people need to recognise change and allow it to grow rather than stamp all over it before it has a chance to blossom.
Wow. Thank you so much for writing this incredibly powerful and eloquent peice. You and the people you speak of in this blog are truly an inspiration and a chastisement to many of us outside prison walls.
"They think a murderer's heart would taint Each simple seed they sow. It is not true! God's kindly earth Is kindlier than men know, And the red rose would but blow more red, The white rose whiter blow.
Out of his mouth a red, red rose! Out of his heart a white! For who can say by what strange way, Christ brings his will to light, Since the barren staff the pilgrim bore Bloomed in the great Pope's sight?
But neither milk-white rose nor red May bloom in prison air; The shard, the pebble, and the flint, Are what they give us there: For flowers have been known to heal A common man's despair."
RSS
Your writing style is splendid! It's very clear and flows well. The expanded vocabulary is a nice touch as well.
Great job forgiving this man and praying for him! You truly are a child of God. Jesus loved even those who persecuted him, and you're emulating that behavior spot-on.
We all make mistakes, and perhaps that guard was simply having a bad day. Even if he continually makes them, and it gets really tough, remember the forgiving and loving power of Christ. As long as you remain morally perfect, you will have done nothing wrong. Like Socrates said, you can't hurt a good man (viz. Apology). And where there is goodness, there is excellence of the soul; and where there is excellence, there is proper functioning of the mind and happiness (viz. Republic).
Only One knows the eternal destiny of all, so we shouldn't waste time on thoughts like that, you know? They are bound to pop up involuntarily, but we ought to block them out and focus on more productive thoughts.
Sorry I didn't have time to get to your questions, but I'm exhausted right now. Keep up the good work, my man! Can't wait to read the next work!
--Calhoun25
I hope you keep up the writing!
Izzy knows about it now also because we are still in touch and it came up when I was asking about you and then I told him the results of my search. I do not know what he thinks of it all because I know how close you two were and I hated being the bearer of such terrible news and didn't ask how he felt.
I saw photos of both of your sons on a networking website because I'm in touch with Jennifer also.
I know Japanese because I lived there for five years, it is tough.
Anyway, I think it best to end this correspondence with that. I wish I could offer you words of support, but I am not in a position to do so for obvious reasons.
I agree with you about the manufactured criticsm of Miley Cyrus, but aren't your perceptions of Taylor Swift from the mass media also? After all, we only have their reporting of the meaning behind her actions and songs.
Elizabeth-Anne
You are clearly a very intelligent man, with a great knowledge of life.
Edwards story is a very sad but i'm sure extremely common one ,all over the world.. people need to recognise change and allow it to grow rather than stamp all over it before it has a chance to blossom.
Wow. Thank you so much for writing this incredibly powerful and eloquent peice. You and the people you speak of in this blog are truly an inspiration and a chastisement to many of us outside prison walls.
"They think a murderer's heart would taint
Each simple seed they sow.
It is not true! God's kindly earth
Is kindlier than men know,
And the red rose would but blow more red,
The white rose whiter blow.
Out of his mouth a red, red rose!
Out of his heart a white!
For who can say by what strange way,
Christ brings his will to light,
Since the barren staff the pilgrim bore
Bloomed in the great Pope's sight?
But neither milk-white rose nor red
May bloom in prison air;
The shard, the pebble, and the flint,
Are what they give us there:
For flowers have been known to heal
A common man's despair."