Trains, Jesus, Murder - Johnny Cash, Prisons, and Me

A few weeks back I picked up a book from the staff-recommended non-fiction shelf at the Roseville Library.  The book by Richard Beck, was Trains, Jesus, and Murder - The Gospel According to Johnny Cash. I’ve always been interested in Johnny Cash - and I loved the book's title.  My dad was a fan and had an album or two growing up.  When JJ was in elementary school, he had a brief Cash phase when a teacher’s aide sang  Folsom Prison Blues, - interesting song to teach little kids. 

The book was an interesting story of Johnny Cash’s life told through the lens of Christianity, providing details on Cash’s upbringing, musical career, and faith journey.  The book spends some time on Cash’s prison concerts, drawing on the author’s experience leading a weekly Bible class for fifty inmates at the maximum security French Robertson Unit .  It was fascinating to hear about the lives of incarcerated folks, and their struggles with faith and captivity.

I had never given much thought about spending time with prisoners until recently when Maria's recovery journey sent her off in a new direction. A few months ago, Maria started bringing AA meetings to the Shakopee Women's Prison. She underwent training and a criminal background check. Now she's gone several times and finds it very rewarding. Though she doesn't - in fact she's not allowed to - share much about her experience, I think it's been a great learning opportunity for her. I used to think that sort of experience was a world away from me but realize now it’s not that far.