The Innocent Man

My heart is indebted to you who  have read, prayed, wept and encouraged

us through this past year of the life of

The Innocent Man.

I've rarely felt alone in this journey.

Just when I need it the most  one of you will comment,

send me an email or renew my strength with your prayer.

I know I've been vague in the details,

but because of the ongoing investigation and the need for my family's privacy,

I haven't been able to share more.

He is well loved by my family and everyone that knows him.

He lives 2,000 miles away and not near any family members.
(I was the only one who was able to fly out for the trial,
although many wonderful, supporter believers from the area were there.)

He is a new believer.

He was going to be married  June 2011.

He was going to graduate from college May 2011.
He was going to start a new job in his field in February 2010.

Someday, I'll be able to tell you more.

Someday, when

deliverance

comes, you will hear all.

The Innocent Man

 is in county jail, awaiting sentencing. 

The parole officer is recommending 13-16 years.

He could be 60 years old when released.

Even if he had committed the crime, this is a stiff penalty.

In the state where he's detained,

 a person who commits murder is sentenced to life,

 but is eligible for parole after 20 years.

For an innocent person, this is unbelievably hard to face.

He has moments where he's fine,

and other moments where he's swallowed by the waves,

just like the rest of us.

We have a pact towards one another.

We choose to be strong so when he's released,

he'll come home to  family and friends strong in the Lord.

He's choosing to be strong,

so those outside the bars can endure the unjustness of his confinement,

and won't fail in their strength.

We choose to be strong for each other

and we choose to walk by faith,

though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

He's daily reading His Bible.

He's daily praying for everyone and everything he can think of.

He exercises daily.

He reads daily, thanks to wonderful friends who order books online.

 (You can't mail packages, only order new books online.)

The Innocent Man also has been witnessing to many men.

One day he described a scene from the night before.

(men praying in Georgia against unjust treatment)

The men in his cell block wanted him to pray for them.

Of their own accord

they gathered in a circle,

held hands

and had the Innocent Man pray for them out loud.

It was a moment the Lord allowed to give us hope and peace,

and to understand about His ways and His thoughts.

We do see spiritual purpose and the Lord upholding.

But still, no matter how much he reads and prays and witnesses,

our hearts long for him to be out.

We long for justice and vindication.

But for now,

irons bars and an iron cot make up the home for

The Innocent Man.

We just rejoice that it's not his final home,

he's just a passin' through,

his treasures are laid up,

somewhere beyond the blue.

The angels beckon him,

from heaven's open door,

and he can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Thank you for upholding, through your words and prayers,

The Innocent Man

and those who love him.