Gatekeeper: July 2012
Earlier this summer, Dr. Rhonda Kelley and I had the privilege of teaching a weeklong workshop for our seminary program at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. As part of the requirements for the course Public Speaking for Women, the ladies had to give several public presentations, including a testimony and a Bible lesson.
One student started a speech referring to the phrase she’s heard tossed around a lot in Christian circles: “doing life together.” She said that this phrase has a different meaning within the fences of LCIW because, indeed, many of the offenders have a life sentence and thus will spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Perhaps the challenge is to not take so lightly the privilege we have to walk alongside other women in our different seasons of life. Experienced student wives can welcome new families on campus, remembering what it was like to make a home out of a matchbook-sized apartment. Women students who have been in school a year or two (or more!) can advise incoming students on negotiating classes and traffic and humidity. Even fulltime staff women and faculty wives can step into the lives of women all around us and find points of commonality and encouragement.
Most of us won’t be on campus forever (it’s not a life sentence, ladies, even if it feels like it at times), but we can make the most of the relationships God has made available to us. This week marks 18 years for the Jackson family being back on the NOBTS campus. Lots of life has happened in those years, and much of it made richer because of the women I have done – and am doing – life with. Thanks!
P.S. The photo of Dr. Rhonda and I was taken at the end of Day 4 of our week at LCIW. Needless to say, we were tired!
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