Written By Brandi Kirkpatrick, Genesee County Assistant Chaplain
In the county jail setting we typically see individuals for 12 months or less. However there are circumstances in cases where court is postponed, waiting on co-defendants’ trials, or just a case that takes much longer than usual to see resolve.
This is where Crystal finds herself. She has been in the Genesee County Jail for almost 2 years awaiting interviews, examinations, court dates, etc. Despite the circumstances almost never seeming to go in her favor, she never fails to show up to class – and with a smile. She never fails to offer a word of encouragement to another inmate, deputy, chaplain or a volunteer. She has taken advantage of our GRO Pod (God Restoring Offenders, now ReLaunch Academy) curriculum 3 times, and is currently in her second semester of ReLaunch. Myself (Brandi) along with many of the instructors have joked with Crystal saying that she could probably teach the next semester.
Last week we knew one of our instructors would be on vacation, so we asked Crystal if she would be interested in teaching a lesson. She was hesitant at first, but the next morning when I (Brandi) came into the jail, I had a kite from her saying “Need to see Brandi, the answer is yes I just need help…”
I met with her right away to see how I could help. She came to this 1:1 with five pages of notes already written. She said that after I asked her to teach, she went back into her cell and glanced up at a picture of a butterfly on her wall. she knew in that moment, not only did the Lord want her to teach but He provided the topic.
“There is a spiritual lesson in the study of the caterpillar. The same God who changes the caterpillar can also change you.” She talked about how in the caterpillar stage, their vision is very limited and they’re only able to see in black and white. Much like when we first open a Bible without knowing Christ, we can’t see/understand what His word means. The caterpillar is often a nuisance. They chew through leaves and wreak havoc, much like we do before we know Christ. Then is the chrysalis stage, which is in-between a caterpillar and a butterfly – a state of transition. She says that this is where we are now. We’re not yet in our glorified bodies. Like the chrysalis is protected by the cocoon, we are protected by the blood of Jesus. The caterpillar begins to shed its skin and die, like we are called to do. “Christians are called to live a life of consistent growth – putting off the old carnal character and putting on God’s holy, righteous character.”
Crystal is living a life of consistent growth. Even behind these walls. She is a new creation in Christ, and she is sharing His love throughout the women’s pod.
Some comments during discussion:
“I think I’m still in the cocoon stage. I feel protected, but I’m still learning and have a lot of changing to do.”
“We have the ‘cocoon’ protecting us which is the blood of Jesus even though we’re not beautiful yet.”
“I love that once you get to the next stage, you can’t go back to an old one. Like once we choose to follow Jesus, we’re sealed.”