On this day, August 23, 2018, I have exactly 9 years left. 2027 I’ll be released and I’ll embark on another journey with a new horizon and new friends. Now, some of you might say, “Dang, 9 years? That is an eternity”. But lets face it. Time is a tricky, elusive double edged sword that can either break or make us. It’s what we do with out time that counts.
For example, there was a person long ago that was incarcerated. Like myself, he was a writer and wrote lettes to people in different countries. His words of encouragement struck so deep with his friends that his friends shared the letters with the people around him. Those people told their friends, and their friends told their friends, and on, and on. Eventually, a group of people put these letters in a book and it filled up the latter majority of what we called The New Testament of the Bible. This prisoner, Paul, didn’t look at his damning situation and cry or pout. Sure, he HAD to have had his days of regrets, remorse, depression, maybe even thoughts of suicide. I don’t know that for sure, but judging on human character and the horrible circumstances Paul was in, I believe that in reality, he struggled with wanting to end it all. But he didn’t. He persisted. He finished the race set before him. Now, I’m no Paul, but I am a writer with optimism. I am making the best of my “dire” situation. And I’m looking forward to the day when I can meet you all and laugh about these times and help those who have helped me.
Please, everyone, make do with the time and situation you are given. Invest into yourself. Invest into others. Don’t let ANYTHING stand in your way of success and peace of mind. There is hope to be had in everyday and in every situation. Can you believe that we have come together, all across the earth, to unify over a blog? If that isn’t hope, then I don’t know what is.
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Matthew Epperson
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Great article with a lot of positive thought for you and your community. May your time go by quickly and I think you will definitely come out a winner, for it looks like you are already doing very good things to help yourself. I wish you much success with your journey. There will likely be good days and bad as there are in the outside world, but day by day you can move forward with your life.
What a great analogy, using Paul. Stay hopeful. It will help you through these nine years.
Hi Matthew found you via an indirect route (you’ll get a letter later). But i saw what brought you to this institution on a news story. Past history. Live and learn right. But on this story i find what you said true. I have been in the military for over 19 years and it seems like it was only yesterday. Time flies, maybe not as fast as we would like but it doesn’t stop. I’ll write you a letter from your ad. Gregg