Time flies – it is now almost two years since my last Yellow Ribbon Run. I had donated to purchase a pair of golden shoe wings and proudly affixed them to this pair of shoes to take part in the run.
Over the two years, the wings have garnered their fair share of attention from friends or random acquaintances, and I have always been happy to explain that they are Yellow Ribbon wings, procured in support of second chances for ex-inmates.
This year, I decided to sign up and try to make it for the run.
Even without discount, I thought the registration fee was well worth the merch. Water bottle with mist spray! Shoebag! A free set of gold wings! The tee was good quality too.
We played a game at the race pack collection venue and won another pair of hot pink wings. Which I affixed to my pair of gym shoes.
I think the Yellow Ribbon Run is one of the most meaningful runs out there.
It is indeed true that we need to ‘unlock the second prison’, which is the societal stigma associated with being an ex-offender. Rather than say “society needs to change”, let’s start with ourselves.
Question your own attitudes. Would you speak to an ex-inmate as a friend?
We now have the privilege of practicing such brotherly love through our weekly Thursday community dinners at church. A few ex-offenders would join us from a nearby shelter and it is really not difficult to strike up a conversation. They have paid the price after being convicted, and it is their due to be treated just like any other human being.
As mentioned in my previous post in 2017, one of our current pastors is an ex-offender who served a long sentence. He is now one of the most trusted and admirable brothers-in-Christ whom I know. Indeed, Christ overcomes.
Looking forward to the run! And the tangible encouragement that it represents, to all ex-inmates and their families – that there are thousands of people who are willing to wake up at the crack of dawn on a weekend, brave the traffic jams to get to the race site, and in doing so show their support in building the road to acceptance.
Will be ‘wearing’ this yellow ribbon for the month of September (and beyond) to show support too. Because everyone deserves a second chance, and no one is beyond redemption.
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