Who to help those behind bars? A parable

The scene is in heaven, and St. Leonard is patiently waiting at the door of our Lord for a private discussion. Not many people know about St Leonard, but he’s well known in celestial circles, especially among those who have spent time behind bars while on earth. St. Leonard is the Patron of Prisoners, Captives, and Slaves. 

Back to the story. 

When finally granted an audience with the Heavenly Father, St. Leonard came right to the point. “What’s this I hear about your plans to start a little agency to help prisoners in a little town in Michigan?” 

“Yes,” said God. “The idea of simply helping prisoners with their day-to-day problems has been on my mind for some time. We have wonderful agencies and servants providing Bibles to prisoners, offering Bible lessons, making prison visits, and doing all kinds of things for our cause. But, I’m thinking of something much smaller. As you know, our prisons are full of men and women who aren’t getting appropriate medical care, who are innocent, who can’t find a missing loved one, who are struggling with mental illness. The list of personal problems that prisoners struggle with, on a daily basis, is incredibly long!” 

“Then why start on such a small scale, in such a small town, using a relatively unknown Dutch guy to get it going? We have men and women in high places who could make this happen overnight. We have powerful preachers and theologians, counselors and shrinks, doctors and lawyers. If we’re going to do this, let’s do it big!” 

“Ah, my dear Leonard, you can’t handle the day-to-day problems of the little guy with big people. As you may recall, when I sent a Savior into the world he started out as a baby human being in a simple animal crib.” 

“OK, but this still isn’t making any sense to me. You pick this man who’s already at retirement age. People don’t know how to pronounce his name, let alone spell it! Now, let’s take a look at his record. 

“In his first career he may have been a good radio broadcaster, but his poor business skills finally led to his downfall after 29 years in the business. Compare that to the work of many fine Christian servants who touch the lives of millions of people on radio and television each week! 

“In his second career as a seller of church organs, he chose to sell plug-in instruments. Compare that to the builders of mighty pipe organs that majestically praise you in some of the world’s finest places of worship.” 

“But you see, Leonard, I’m getting back to my point of simplicity. In his career as a small-town journalist, his love for and support of “the little guy” was perfectly in line with my Son’s teachings and actions. 

“As a salesperson of church organs, he especially helped small churches…churches that had no money or space for big pipe organs, but who wanted to praise me with good instruments. Their songs are sweet music to my ears!” 

“So,” said God the Father, “I’m going to use a flawed little guy to start a little program in Michigan that will help prisoners who are not little to me. This program won’t be for believers only…it will help all incarcerated men and women, regardless of belief, regardless of crime committed, regardless of sexual orientation, regardless of color or ethnicity. 

“It will be called HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS, and that’s exactly the theme that this small group of prison workers will follow. They’ll do their best to help with problems, but they’ll make sure that people behind bars, their families and their loved ones, know that someone cares…that they matter!” 

“Sounds doubtful, Father…can it really work?” 

“You know that all my projects work! Why, in 24 years, this group of compassionate people will have touched the lives of half of all incarcerated individuals in their state! 

“That’s what my Son had in mind when he said, ‘I was in prison and you visited me.’”