Blessed be the peacemakers

This past Saturday, I was presented with an awesome opportunity to meet and serve some members of a valuable, yet under-noticed profession. Our church was granted the privilege of sponsoring a picnic for the San Antonio District office of Texas Parole Officers. These wonderful ladies and gentlemen do the often thankless job of supervising parolees, helping them transition back into society and assisting in their continued rehabilitation after their conviction.

As I understand it, the parole office structure has recently undergone a fairly notable shift. The chaplaincy is a newly created position within the district office. Jim, the wonderful gentleman who has been hired into this role, has done an outstanding job of hitting the ground running in his efforts to support and encourage the men and women in the San Antonio branch of the district office. I hope his efforts will be as fruitful as he expands his efforts to offering the same services to the other cities and towns within his district.

Jim first met our pastor at a small church conference, which Jim did not even really want to attend. His reluctant attendance opened a door for our church, when the two happened a strike up a conversation and an exchange of contact info. Further meetings between Jim and some of our leadership team evolved into an opportunity to serve in a small capacity by sponsoring their appreciation picnic. While at the picnic, I was impressed by the friendliness and appreciation of a group who probably get little to no recognition and thanks in their daily jobs. Looking ahead, I am excited for the opportunity to serve these wonderful people in a further capacity, and to develop a closer relationship between their office and our church.

I am frequently awed by the intricacy and subtlety of God's work. There were a number of small steps that had to be taken, and a multitude of small blessings and nudges required to put our two groups in alignment. For all of that, I'm very hopeful that this will not be a one-time event, and we will have many further chances to serve and minister to these folks.

A small aside here - While at the picnic, several of our group had a chance to talk a little with Mike, the district director. He told us how in the early 90's, the recidivism rate in the state of Texas used to be around 58%. To translate, 58% of parolees used to turn back to crime, and usually end up back in prison, due to any combination of factors and influences. In or around 1994, then-Governor Bush initiated a faith-based initiative to offer a different path to help parolees reintegrate into free society. Since the implementation of this faith-based program, the recidivism rate in Texas has dropped to around 28%.

What is immediately clear is that these people are doing God's work, and doing a fine job of it. What also becomes apparent at closer inspection is that for all that they pour out, they need and deserve to have more poured into them. I heard a great description of the Christian life tonight. It was said that we, as followers of Christ, need to be like rivers. As we are fed and poured into by many different sources, so we need to pour forth of ourselves, continuing to give the water of life further down the line. In looking at the lives and jobs of these parole officers, it is clear that they live this way, as they pour their lives into people who are desperately in need of it. Even granting what an awesome job they already do, how much better could their service be if their river is more amply fed by heartfelt service and ministry?

I'm so thankful for the small glimpse I got on Saturday into this previously unnoticed niche of our community. I look forward in the future to finding many more opportunities to share in their lives.