Tuesday at Fox Lake Correctional. 19 guys in the circle (100% of the guys who started the class, apparently that never happens). Lesson 10 of 10, our final class (which everyone knows is not the end but the beginning).

We go around the Circle, each guy sharing for three minutes. “Who were you three months ago, before The Forgiveness Class? Who are you now? Describe your Forgiveness process and journey. And, what will your Legacy be?”

It’s Craig’s turn. “Before I go,” Craig says, “can I plug this book?” He holds up ‘A Message from Jessie.’ Before I can say thanks but let’s stay focused on you guys and our purpose, the guys all look at me and in one voice say, “yeah.”

Craig: “This book is incredibly painful and incredibly inspiring. I just read it.”
Me: “Thanks.”
Craig (to the group): “We need to light a match to his (my) Forgiveness process.”
Me: “Thank you Craig. OK, now let’s get to YOUR story.”
Craig: “First I need to say this. Guys, what if we, this group, all left this class today in agreement together to represent Jessie, her life and death, her legacy, love is greater than hate, here at FLCI? What if we left here and went forward together honoring Jessie, and we brought Forgiveness and Peace and Empathy to this place?”
Me: “Wow, guys, most of you have kids. Imagine if you lost one of them, and a group of men in our state prison system did that in your kid’s name? I think Jess would be pretty proud and excited to see the difference she’s made.”
Antonio (biggest guy in our group, quiet, tough): “She DOES see it, Buck!”
Me: ” .”

Friends, at a young age Jess was in hot pursuit of faith. But she somehow always seemed to know to honor everyone’s beliefs, especially when different from her own. And though her legacy project is deliberately nonpolitical and non-religious, in order to engage and connect everyone, still somehow faith keeps surfacing itself at the center of it all. And Love.

Maybe that’s you Sweetie.