I didn’t know it. The month of April is historically recognized as Second Chance Month. It is so designated to raise public awareness about giving those who have been convicted of crimes and have completed their prison sentences the opportunity for an honest second chance at successfully reentering society.
I learned about April being Second Chance month from articles in The Commercial Appeal (April 24). The sub-headline of one of these articles stated the case: SECOND-CHANCE HIRING AND SUCCESSFUL REENTRY PROGRAMS GIVE FORMER OFFENDERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES THROUGH LIGITIMATE AND PRODUCTIVE WORK.
In my mind when I read that, I connected it with a story Anne Tyler told in her novel Saint Maybe. A nineteen-year-old man named Ian feels guilty about his brother’s death and feels some responsibility to help raise his brother’s children. At Christmas break, Ian sees how taking care of his brother’s three children is wearing his mother down. He contemplates leaving college to help.
One January evening a few days before he is to return to college for Spring semester, Ian notices a yellow glow through a window. He creeps closer to read on a sign, “Church of the Second Chance.” He hears the congregation singing, “Something , something, (he doesn’t get the word). Something lead us…”
He misses most of the words, but the voices are strong and joyful so he goes in. They sing some more hymns. Reverend Emmett prays, and there is something about the prayer that catches Ian’s attention. After the service he talks with Reverend Emmett. The pastor asks him, “What was it you needed forgiven?” Ian tells him what he is feeling. After an effort to explain Christianity, the last thing Reverend Emmett tells Ian is, “It’s the religion of atonement and complete forgiveness. It’s the religion of the Second Chance.”
The second article (April 25), headlined, OFFICE OF REENTRY OFFERING HOPE, JOB SKILLS TO PRISONERS, described work being done in Shelby County. The goal of this office is to make reentry into society go smoothly for former felons, helping them build relationships with members of the community, gain the skills needed to find and obtain jobs and with things as simple as getting bus passes.
If Reverend Emmett is right, and I believe he is, that Christianity is “the religion of the Second Chance,” our churches can’t leave to the county all the work of successful reentry. Jesus did refer to our relationship to prisoners as a kind of measure of our faithfulness: “I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matthew 25:36).