 Children grow up very fast when forced to the streets. Forced? What do you mean "streets"? How do you know? Good questions! I learn this, partially from my own experience, but mainly from talking to young "gangstas" at Juvenile Hall.
I am part of the Chaplaincy program that counsels and teaches at Sacramento's Juvenile Hall. Myself, my wife Nancy, and a few others concentrate on the "lockdown" units for the most serious offenders [rape/murder & attempted/ manslaughter/home invasion/grand theft/etc.]. We teach/preach on some Sunday mornings to three units, and I go during the weekdays to develop relationships personally... one on one, with a few of the residents who wish to meet with me privately.
Recently, I talked at length with one boy (young man) we'll call Damon (to protect privacy and legal ramifications...most are accused, but not yet convicted). He admitted doing some wrong things, but felt he had little choice. His mother gets welfare checks and doesn't work...his father has been long out of his family's life. There is no money to pay for new shoes so his feet don't stick out of his old ones. He and his younger brother don't have a lot to eat and there is no money for anything extra...they are poor! His rationale is to take from someone else who has more than enough in order to survive. School doesn't provide answers he needs at this point and he can't get a job at age 14. Also, his 21 year old sister just moved back in---pregnant. He is the main bread winner in his eyes; except he got caught and he's locked up. Damon's answer to all of this when and if he ever gets out is to find a job and make enough money for he and his family. He realizes however that without an education the prospects of this are bleak. He would like to play football in HS but that means no working. Nevertheless, he believes money will provide most of his answers!
I'm trying to tell him that he will have the rest of his life to work, but now is the time to have fun being a kid, learn some life-long character lessons playing sports and to finish his HS education, at the very least, in order to get a halfway decent job when he grows up. He's kind of excited about my ideas, but of course reality is that he hasn't gone to trial yet! Who knows when he'll be out to pursue his dreams? Reality could mean that when he does get out the streets will call again and through crime he will be able to get the money he wants quickly and football is a fantasy for others better off than him. He admits to me that he would like to have God in his life and a church where he could learn and feel comfortable...even a mentor who spend time with him. But, like so many others of us in America, the material world beckons and it requires money. I gave him a pamphlet with Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexanders Christian testimony to give him hope.
Willie is another black male that I met individually for the first time. During "church" on Sunday he had many questions about the authenticity of the Bible. Later this week I spent an hour trying to connect with him (wanting to give up because he was so belligerent). I came away mentally and emotionally spent. I tried every way I could think of to find a common ground or a mutual interest...he wouldn't let me. I'm usually pretty good at this, but he blocked my every attempt to try and speak rationally, logically, lovingly, or spiritually. This 15 year old was stubborn, angry, defiant and rude. But, I sensed he was also wanting me not to give up on him and he wanted me to care enough to pursue him in spite of himself. Really, who else would?
The streets are his refuge. The city blocks somewhere in Sacramento are home to his "homies" (friends) and the hood gives him a place to belong, to gain power, offers opportunity for making money and finding fulfillment even if it is temporary and illegal. While on the inside (jail) no one is to be trusted...he accused me of being a snitch for the police. The gangster code of silence will serve well inside and out, he thinks. Everyone is a potential enemy and no one he knows of loves him or cares for him. Even his homeboys don't communicate much with him. His mother and father are not a part of his life. He doesn't trust anybody. His guard is up, his mind closed, and his back is against the wall. Hope for the future is not recognizable. He is forced to rely on his own wits and cunning to survive. He didn't choose a life of gangs, he was born into it and it chose him! He is 15 going on 25 and who know if he'll make it to 30. I'm stubborn, too. I'll go back next week, after much prayer for him, and let the Holy Spirit connect even if I can't.
Finally, there is Jose (aka Bear), whom I met today. Mexican heritage, Norteno gang family, and loved his life living on the streets before someone turned him in. His mother died 3 years ago at age 12 and he has never known his father who is in prison. A younger and older half-brothers who he doesn't know too well live at his grandma's. Before he pulled the trigger he made $400 per day ($200 profit) selling crystal methamphetamine. He doesn't use it of course because of what it does to you. But he does have some remorse because he knows the kids he sold to on the corners sell it to their mothers and they get "all messed up" like his mother used to before she died. Living in a sleazy motel is better than trying to live at one of his uncles because he can afford it and make his own rules. Besides, he gets a lotta' love and respect from the people in his neighborhood. If he had been more careful and those he trusted hadn't snitched, he would have saved enough to invest in a clothing business, sell it for a big profit and have some kids of his own and live the American dream. For an entrepreneur the streets can offer a good opportunity. Who needs school and a regular job? Besides, the young kids look up to him and he takes care of them some food and a few clothes. Plus, his little brother wants to be just like him and his younger protege' aka lil' Bear, admires what he has (had) and can be groomed for success.
The truth is, as he later admitted, although the streets were "mostly good to him", he wouldn't want his little brother or anyone to follow his example now. If his mother had lived and not have been hooked on drugs; and if he had a father around, he probably wouldn't have been forced into the streets to ply his trade. Then he wouldn't have had to defend the stabbing of his one of his homeboys in the gang. He wouldn't have had to grow up so fast (most people think he is at least 21)....and he wouldn't be having this conversation with me in Juvenile Hall!
Where does God fit in? Faith is one of his gang members creeds, so if he reasons that if he can't have faith in them or in his family...what he can see with his eyes, then how can he have faith in a God that he cannot see?
My answer: the Bible tells us that all people will let us down, lie to us and do things that are regretful; but having faith in the God I know never disappoints, but gives us hope, love {Romans 5:1-5},and helps to carry our burdens(Galatians 6:1-3 & Hebrews 2:11-18). I suggested that he Jose look for God with the eyes of his heart instead of with his eyes. With a new book of John from the YFC 3Story Bible I recommended he learn about the man Jesus, who the Father sent so that we could understand HIM better. He will find that Jesus was tempted, suffered and experienced the faithlessness of mankind similar to us. Jesus also showed that through prayer we can hear the Fathers voice and get guidance.
Jose taught me much about the young life of a child gangster who grew up too fast.
posted by Randal
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