Erik

To God,

I’m not sure exactly who I am supposed to address this letter to.  For that I apologize, but I assume no one will take offense if I go ahead and ask God directly for help.  My name is Erik and I am currently incarcerated at Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Galt, CA.  I will soon be sent from here to a state penitentiary.  I’m not sure which one though. 

I’m writing to you today because I recently saw a fellow inmate with a really nice Bible with a leather jacket and his name engraved on it.  His name is Noah.  I asked him where he got such a nice Bible and at first he seemed very perplexed at the question.  But he looked at me in the face he could see that I was being sincere in my inquiry. I only mention this because he is African American and I am Caucasian.  There is a lot of animosity between our races here.  Anyway, once he realized that all I was asking for was because I would like to have a Bible that is as beautiful as his, that will have a better chance of lasting the wear and tear of incarceration.  We listened to the service together, we sang together and after the service I started towards my side of the building where the whites are separated from the blacks.  Before I could get to far Mr. Wright (stopped me to my surprise) and said “don’t you wanna know where to get one of these Bibles?”  Now it was me that had a perplexed look on my face, so with both of us feeling very uncomfortable we faced one another and smiled.  Mr. Wright opened his Bible and showed me who to write and ask for a beautiful Bible like his.  Mr. Wright and I have not exactly become close friends, but I get the feeling that we understand that we are not enemies, that we are just two men looking for the grace of God in a place that could in my eyes use God’s love more then most places I’ve ever been.  I’m sorry for rambling on I just thought that maybe someone other than Mr. Wright, myself, and God should know how the Word of God and the desire to be close to Him can bring two men in very difficult situations a little closer.  Every little bit helps.  I don’t believe in coincidences.  So maybe Mr. Wright and I will cross paths again, hopefully under better circumstances.  With all that being said I feel kinda silly.  I’m very new to God, I had a very life changing experience not long ago and something very strange is happening to me and God has EVERYTHING to do with it.  That is a story for another time.  I would like to know if you could possibly send me one of those very nice Bibles.  I’m not sure if I have time to receive one here or if I have to wait till I get to a penitentiary.  Any response would be nice.  If not, I will try again when I get somewhere more permanent.  Thank you for your time, let me know if I need to make arrangement for payment and I will try to figure it out. 

Thank you for your time, Erik        I love you God!