Yesterday I visited a female prison about 2 hours drive from Cape Town, and was priviledged to take part in a Khulisa “My Path” session with a group of around 20 female prisoners . They are currently experiencing stage 1 of the My Path programme (looking at themselves, understanding who they are. Part two looks at how they are with their immediate surroundings and part three involves looking at how they interact with society at large.)  

I witnessed a level of sharing and a depth of honesty which had me and the other vistors who had brought me, in tears.  The women spoke of thorns within them which they needed to look at and change; they talked about needing to accept aspects of themselves, and by doing so they will be able to grow in themselves; they talked about learning to be at peace in an environment where all choice has been removed from them.  And they talked about a loving God who is looking out for them.  They chatted too about rejecting the macho image of prison life, and instead maintaining contact with their real selves.

How I wish we could all mirror the depth of honesty these women showed to me…..