"The Community"

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ACTS 4:32-36

"32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need."

The Bible has a lot of narrative dedicated to two "communities" in the Bible.  The first is the Jews wandering in the desert for 40 years. The second is the church in Jerusalem.

The church in Jerusalem was kind of a "feel-good" story at the beginning.  There seemed to be a "communal" feel going on and kind of a "hippy-dippy" love-vibe happening.  That communal "togetherness" has been a reoccuring inspiration throughout history.  Grooups of christians have endevoured to live together in a community setting since AD30.  Sam often talked of living on a communal farm with other christian families where there would be a sharing of resources and fellowship and proximity.  Every night we would all hold hands around a campfire and sing, "Kum-By-Ya."  (Pretty quickly in Acts the "good-feeling" vibe turned into "fear-of-the-Lord" and the deaths of Annanias & Saphira.)

With IFI, Sam and I got to be a part of that "communal" experience.  We just never imagined it would be us-together and in a prison.

Although we referred to Acts oftern (as we should have) I likened our collective IFI experience (most specifically, the mens) and a "40-years of Desert Wandering."  The men had been enslaved (and they had embraced their slavery-even sought it out) and were now in a time of trial and testing.  They were in a time of purging in prison, and there was a promised land that would either be filled with un-defeatable giants or milk and honey, depending on the manner in which they "wandered."

Unit "E" was a testing ground.  It was a pressure cooker that would simultaneously highlight weaknesses, build up strengths, reveal sin, and expose hearts.

IFI broke the only code universally held by all prison participants, "You do your time and I'll do mine."

Generally, prison is to be endured.  Most guys keep their heads down if they can, thry not to hustle or get caught hustling. They are there to lift weights, smoke, watch some TV, possibly hook-up with some future "associates" and get out.

There are those young guys and guys with personality disorders that can't keep out of "the mess." They are too hyper, immature, oppositional/defiant, or straight evil to keep their heads down, but mostly, guys are just trying to "make it through."

IFI was the opposite.  We intently looked at what was happening in your relationships in the Community and on the yard.  We looked at those who were "sucking-up" those who were "hiding" those who were "knuckle-heads" and those who were straight "evil" with a desire to change.

Mostly, I just watched what went on.  I listened to conversations.  I looked at how men reacted to the inevitable conflict or crisis.  I looked for women to leave them of out of state detainers to show up.  I looked for money problems or room mate problems.  I watched how men endured injustice and unfairness.  All of theses things happened in the community.  I didn't have to manufacture anything.

All I had to have was an "ear to hear and an eye to see."

chris