Prison Journalism: A journey of self-discovery

Prison Journalism: A journey of self-discoveryLincoln Raker was incarcerated at Pollsmoor prison from 2013 until 2016 and participated in the restorative justice programme while serving his time.

by Lincoln Raker

22-03-2024 08:19

in Prison Journalism

A Journey of Self-Discovery

Image via Pexels

Did you ever think that you don't have control over your life and that you don't add value to anything or anyone? The answer is, yes, most of the time, I feel like that, but it is just my mind telling me that. The reason that I am telling you this is because I know I am not alone, and those who are reading this should find hope in my thinking, and learn that no one is alone, no matter what they find themselves in.

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I think that, having to change my life and giving Christ control over my life, I now understand and look at life in a different way, and it is all thanks to the Lord for taking me through all choices and values. Yes, it was a very long road that I walked, but at the end, I was never alone. So today, if I did not dedicate my life to Him, maybe I would still be lost with no way to go.

Finding Grace and Purpose For most of my life, I used to lean on my own understanding, and it brought a lot of hurt and pain. The lesson is to trust in the unseen and to stay focused on God, no matter what comes your way. Can I be honest with you? Yes, most of the time, it felt like I was lucky, but I now understand that it was not luck; it was the grace of God that was over me, and His hand of protection kept me all this time so that He could use me in a way to help others, and that my voice could be heard. Can I tell you something? Don't ever walk around with a blurred vision.

Yes, serving the Lord is not all praying, and you have the ups and downs in life. The most important thing of all is always to be prayed into the process, trust in the Lord, and be strong. Only the one and the pure have and enter the kingdom of heaven and then lead face to face. My message is a message of hope, and I know that someone will be touched by it in the end.

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Building a Relationship with God and Hope for the Future Once, I was doing the dirty work; now, I am doing it for the Lord, with God by my side. I think that the hardest part of it all was to build a relationship with God. It was not easy to always stay on track; sometimes, I fell back, but I always had the power to stand back up and keep moving forward. I think one of my bigger goals is to be a father for my kids. Yes, it is hard to raise kids in a single-parent environment, but our kids are exposed to our communities, and once you learn something, it is hard to unlearn it. My hope for the future is that all should live in peace and help out each other. Yes, that is what I want, just bringing the world to have the same mindset and thinking the same, to be able to live as one in His light.

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

Should you wish to assist in the rehabilitation of former inmates and help put money into the pockets of those who have struggled to earn a living during and after incarceration, click HERE

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RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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