Corrections_Today_March_April_2021_Vol.83_No.2

Correctional Chaplain Perspectives

A few days later, I looked at the website and learned how mis- taken I had been about meditation. I learned that meditation is not just for Buddhist monks. People of all faiths meditate. 5 I learned you can meditate sitting down, standing up, walking, you name it. I learned you do not have to meditate for hours at a time. Meditating a few minutes every day can relax you more than meditating an hour once or twice a week. I learned that meditation is not a substitute for prayer but it can supplement prayer. I learned that meditation is not some mystical, complicated process. It is actually pretty easy when you relax and do not try too hard. And I learned three of the key components of meditation are mind- fulness, presence, and compassion. Mindfulness Have you ever been doing some- thing and suddenly realized two hours had passed? Maybe you were woodworking, or having coffee with a friend, or writing a sermon. Whatever it was, the time flew by. Without consciously trying you had experienced “mindfulness.” You were focusing completely on what you were doing. But if you had tried to be mindful, it probably would not have happened. It’s like being told not to think about a purple cat. Good luck with that one — now that cat is almost impossible to get out of your mind. But it can happen by using mindfulness. Here’s an example. The next time you drink a cup of coffee try sitting down in a quiet place with no distractions. Take a deep breath and relax. Feel the heat of the cup or

mug. Look at the dark color. Smell the aroma. Take a small sip and re- ally taste it before you swallow it. You may be amazed at how much better the coffee tastes and how much more you are enjoying it than your normal rushed cup of coffee at your desk. You have just experienced mindful coffee drinking. And you did it on purpose. By mindfully focusing on the present, you can be free from the past and the future wherever you are, even in a prison cell. Presence I have always been fascinated by time. On one hand the past, the pres- ent and the future are all we have. On the other hand, the past is gone and the future is not here, so all we have is the present. But if the present is all we have, why do we spend so much time regretting the past (and its mistakes) or dreaming about the future (and that new truck that will bring us happiness)? One goal of meditation is to free us from the past and the future and to help us be where we are right now — in the present. The next time you are alone, try sitting quietly for

a minute and listening. If you are outside you may hear birds chirping or a dog barking. If you are inside you may smell dinner cooking or hear the voice of someone you love talking on the phone. These miracles and wonders were all around you but you had failed to notice them. By mindfully focusing on the present, you can be free from the past and the future wherever you are, even in a prison cell. 6 Compassion Many prison chaplains see or experience anger and fear on a daily basis. It is impossible to work in a prison environment without an inmate or staff member feeling angry or afraid from time to time. A goal of meditation is to help deal with these strong feelings. If we stuff them deep inside, they will fester sometimes for years and come out when we least want them to appear. The next time you find anger growing inside yourself, try this: Stay quiet and take a breath. Picture your anger as a baby crying for help. Think to yourself “Hello my little anger. I see you. I will take care of you.” 7 See yourself picking up the baby and holding it gently in your arms. Then look closely at the person who is making you angry and remember they are also angry (and probably afraid). Remember you are in control of how you react to them. You are not their victim. As a staff member, you may be required to call for assistance and have them restrained, but do it calmly and professionally. Do not raise your voice. Do not return anger for anger. You may be surprised at how this helps calm the situation and them. And you. →

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