Witnessing the true power of God
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 27, 2013
During Holy Week, as people obse-
rve the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I am reminded of one of my most spiritual experiences, which happened four years ago. Danny Louque and I, occasionally assisted by Ben Bergeron, had the privilege of holding a weekly meeting at the St. John Parish Cor-rectional Center every Wednesday at 6 p.m. We would have a group of 40 to 45 inmates who would volunteer to attend. The volunteer groups were started in order to prepare men to re-enter society and become law-abiding, productive citizens.
The inmates were encouraged to read the Bible and every week, a few were asked to share a scripture and what it meant to them. It wasn’t a religious meeting, but the focus was to encourage men to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Four years ago, at the meeting prior to Holy Week, I told the men that at the next meeting we would have a washing of the feet ceremony, imitating what Jesus did at the Last Supper.
When the time came for the experience to take place, I didn’t exactly know what to expect. I started by saying that I had never washed anyone’s feet before, but if Jesus did such a humbling act, who was I not to follow His example.
I had a basin and a pitcher of water, and as I girded myself with a towel, I invited anyone who wanted to have their feet washed to come up. D’Quinn Williams, an inmate, volunteered. I bent down, washed and dried his feet, and when I finished he hugged me and told me he loved me. He then asked if he could wash the feet of the next man.
That night, a teacher from one of the local schools who was originally from the Virgin Islands came with me. What happened next was as moving as anything I have ever witnessed. He began singing: “At the Cross, at the Cross, where I first saw the Light, and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.” He continued singing as each of the next 26 men came up to have their feet washed, and they in turn washed the next one in line.
You could have heard a pin drop as the Holy Spirit took control of the evening. I’ve been to many churches of all denominations and have never experienced anything as spiritual as that. I think it was God’s way of showing the inmates that He will never leave them or forsake them. And to think, that all happened in the St. John Parish Correctional Center.
As I left that meeting, I thought how blessed I was to see how awesome my God is.
If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477, or email hkeller@comcast.net.