Inmate Poetry: I Am
By Arvin Chapman of Lansing Correctional Facility, KS, USA
The Spirit of the One you follow is the spirit of love and peace. That Spirit seeks to abide in the hearts of those who would embrace its call and live its message. The path will not always be easy, the choices will not always be clear, but the cause is sure and the Spirit will bear witness to the truth, and those who live the truth will know the hope and the joy of discipleship in the community of Christ. Amen. —Doctrine and Covenants 161:7
I am competent. I am diligent.
But I wonder if that is the measure.
I hear voices of disapproval,
I see a question mark in the mirror.
A change is what I desire
but opposition is what I am getting,
though I am competent, though I am diligent.
I pretend it doesn’t hurt,
though I feel a wound in my spirit.
And since I cannot touch it,
I worry who will heal it.
I cry to the Lord, to the mighty spirit,
for God knows my competence.
God is the reason I am diligent.
I understand a little, to boast of more would be a lie.
I say what is my truth, and with my truth I shall die.
I dream of many dreams but only one repels the eye;
a world in disarray, too arrogant to cry.
I only hope that same hope enabling every life,
that maybe, just maybe, everything will be all right.
I am competent. I am diligent.
Prayer for Peace
Compassionate God, we can never fully understand your unconditional love. But it is the reason we hope. Thank you for getting us from one day to the next. You know our hearts, God, and that we long to share the peace of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Practice
Reflect on God’s call in your life. Begin by prayerfully asking to recall particular moments when you have experienced God’s presence and invitation to share your gifts. When has God seemed most real in your life? When have you felt disconnected or resistant to God’s call? Reflect on what you did or might do to become reconnected to God. Write in your journal or reflect on how you can develop and share your gifts with others.
Peace Covenant
Today, God, I will diligently seek your spirit of peace.
