It is About Time incarcerated people are given the encouragement to share the truth of their experiences. Your paper will make this possible despite the obstacles you do, and will, face.
Action, not only words, shows the power of one, then two, four, eight…paying it forward. Hope for the broke, that healing is possible both for victim and perpetrator.
We ought not be defined by our less good behaviour. Who of us may ‘cast the first stone’.
My journey includes discovering I was adopted at 37 years old while preparing my mother’s funeral in 1983. My father died in 1982.
My healing of active alcoholism in 1991, Mother’s Day. Thanks to Archie Carmichael, a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and many others over the past 33 years.
My incarceration stems from inappropriate same-gender attraction behaviour between 1978 and 1981. The context being my failure, which I own, from extremely poor judgement fuelled by alcohol and my fear of being known as a homosexual.
Fortunately, with professional therapy, spiritual direction of quality, consistently living the 12 step truth of healing and the non judgemental care and support of friends, I am free from all internal fear.
My incarceration is an objective form of amends. My personal amends to all was made over the past 33 years.
My sorrow is because I am sorry not expecting anything, not even forgiveness. Of course, that has been accepted when offered, an important gift for any healing.
My recovering from alcoholism led to me becoming a professional addictions counsellor from the Australian Institute for Counselling in Addictions (ACIA) with Distinction.
From 1996 to 2004, I served the addicts at William Booth, Surry Hills and Corrections NSW Long Bay, Ngara Mura Rehabilitation Centre.
Please, incarcerated men need to find their ‘goodness’ by a ‘voice’ for their own healing. ‘About Time’ will do this.
Shalom, David.
