An Odd Shadow

By AIC Timothy Espinoza

As I walked around the prison yard, I saw a strange sight. It was a blistering summer evening. On our yard, there is no shade, at least that’s the conclusion to anyone who takes a cursory glance. Yeah, there it was, 15 to 20 men sitting in the grass in a perfectly straight line amidst a sea of scattered groups of men, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. You see, in all the yard there is but one massive light pole which stretches into the sky, supporting four huge lights. Beginning at its base, just beyond the dead zone, (the coned off area in front of the fences), it casts a strong shadow, and in its cool reach set on these men.

The whole thing struck me as humorous, as all over the sweltering yard most sweat and suffered under the Eastern Oregon sun. Yet, these men had found shade, never mind the odd sight they were casting. I wish you could have seen it.

As I left, I began to think about prison and living in a congregant setting among those who do not share my faith. I thought about the oddness of my daily life, practicing disciplines and behavior that is strange in a prison environment. I thought of my Otino Waa sponsored kids, Juliet and Jasper, and how they also live in a congregant setting as well. I then began to think of those men in that cool shadow and how scripture likens Christ to,

“the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” (Isaiah 32:2)

Before salvation, we likely looked to the world around us for relief, but oh, how refreshing, how good it is to have the shadow of Christ to rest in, no matter the season, the setting, or the sizzle of life struggles.