By AIC Timothy Espinosa
Have you ever considered how fresh air might be described? Are you taking it for granted with little thought of the special treat it really is?
In Oregon, every prison is built a little different. Some are filled with units opening into courtyard, which allow movement to the other areas, such as, yard, chow hall and canteen. Some are built off corridors, so there are long hallways connecting all parts of the facility.
The prison I’m currently at is of the corridor-type, so that I need not venture outside in the course of a routine day. During this time of COVID and modified operations the prisons are operating under, yard has proved a bit elusive of late, at least for my unit. So, in light of the fact that an average day now consists of three trips down a corridor to the chow hall and back again, our yards have proved precious indeed! Precious as fresh air.
Given human nature, it’s understandable that one takes for granted normal things like fresh air. You see, in normal times, yard is a fairly regular occurrence and with it that precious fresh air. Fresh air, fresh air! I’m relishing even the words now because today I breathed it again after 10 days. Thank you Lord!
Only 10 days you might ask? That’s not very long. Indeed, I’ve gone far longer without it at various times in the past, but in prison it becomes very import. COVID has a way of messing with your days beyond any control.
…. desire only exists if it cannot be satisfied
It could be you’ve never really wrestled with a prolonged desire to get outside with gallons of crisp clean cold air. You see, the urge or desire only exists if it cannot be satisfied. For my unit, delay was due to fog, low temperature, unit searches, maintenance issues, or for no discernable reason whatsoever. As a free person if you have the sudden desire for fresh air, you simply find an exit leading to the atmospheric delight and it’s there for the taking. We go to the yard when it’s called, if it’s called, take it or leave it, end of story.
The melancholy lifted in an instant
After those 10 days, at long last I took that fresh air in and how delicious it was. Those 10 days of stale air seemed like 10 years! The melancholy lifted in an instant as my lungs were splashed with cold Eastern Oregon air. Now, lest you all see me as a touch delusional, I tell you it tasted like chocolate chip mint ice cream, only better, and I love chocolate chip mint ice cream (even though I haven’t eaten it in over 10 years, but that’s another prison story.)
So, I guess the point of all this is to never take any of God’s good gifts for granted. Be it friends, family, fresh air or chocolate chip ice cream! Exercise your liberty and never take it for granted. Take time to appreciate everything around you with a new sense of how important it is.
Open my eyes so that I can see
all the wonderful things in your teachings.
Psalm 119:18