Hope

I listened to a 59 year-old woman tell a room full of strangers to "trust in the Lord" today. She'd been incarcerated five times in her life. But now she's out. She just completed a bachelor's degree two years ago. Next year she'll have a master's in social work. She's making some real changes.

Another man, a member of the day's panel of presenters, spoke of his seven college degrees. After an honorable discharge from the military, he had bright prospects. But his felony conviction for drug possession transformed him into a social outcast. Returning to society, he opted for higher education. Now he's an entrepreneur, a university researcher, and a motivational speaker.

A third story came from a boisterous woman who couldn't wait to tell us how she'd cleaned up. She was incarcerated seven times, yes, seven, and is currently unemployed. Still, instead of being discouraged, she gave a loud word of thanks to her ex-prison warden, who happened to be sitting at the next table. Her energy and faith are propelling her into a future of challenges, but she's finally determined to make it work.

Again, it's the stories that get to me. These people made some mistakes - some big ones. They'll be felons for the rest of their lives. They will always have trouble finding employment because of that history. Still, their lives have been transformed. Somebody loved them. Somebody served them. They have reason to hope.