It’s not unusual for me to receive enquiries from people interested in working in the field of crime and criminal justice. They often ask with great excitement ‘what do you do?’ ‘what does your work involve?’ Their excitement often visibly diminishes when I explain:
“It involves approaching what I find repulsive, helping the ones I think I cannot help, and going to places that scare me”.
My explanation is spot on, truthful and does indeed reflect the reality, but they are not my words. They are me owning the wise words of Pema Chodran in exhorting us all, when faced with the chaos and darkness of life, to live more fully, more humanly and more courageously by; “Approaching what we find repulsive, helping the ones we think we cannot help, and going to the places that scare us”.
Her words also explain my absolute admiration for all those I have worked with over the years who, despite having done terrible things and scared others in the process, are willing to go to the places that scare them. They, of all of us and Pema, know that those places are always, always, always, within ourselves.
You don’t need to work in prison, probation, police or secure hospital and you don’t need to have committed any crime to also respond to Pema’s encouragement to, when faced with the chaos and darkness of life:
“Approach what you find repulsive, help the ones you think you cannot help, and go to places that scare you”…. Then the task is, to see what happens.
Br Stephen Morris fcc
