Often, I believe, we forget why we are doing the things we are called to do. At Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI), for example, we frequently overlook our purpose because of the tremendous amount of difficulties that the sheer task of trying to complete a higher-level education within the carceral setting can present to learners. Thankfully, this week God graced me with the chance to once again see our purpose — the goal — of receiving this education through an inmate not in CPI.

The institution transferred this young man out of our facility this week and I was struck by the sadness of the event for a rather unusual reason. It is not simply because I will miss him — although he was someone I conversed with regularly, we were not particularly close — and it is not because bad times recently fell upon him, which is the most common reason for leaving the facility. Rather, the sadness I felt was due to my understanding that no matter which facility he was going to, I do not believe he will be able to be the best version of himself. While this inmate was at this facility, he could grow and push himself higher — to a version which allowed him the highest level of flourishing — simply because he was surrounded by men who were learning how to encourage such development in those around him. He was ensconced by men who cared for and supported others, and although he was not a man seeking education, he was able to find a path to flourishing alongside us. That is our mission here at CPI — the one we often forget — to improve the carceral setting to the point where we focus on the restoration and flourishing of those around us.

This inmate who left was not a person involved with gang activity, nor was he an addict; he was simply a man working to improve himself so that when he rejoins the free world he will be a better man than he was when he came in. CPI’s original and continual design is to create and promote such an environment through our education, so men and women like this inmate can live at facilities and grow into the best versions of themselves. Here at Handlon we have found a way to produce this on a smaller scale.

In a unit with men working towards their bachelor degrees in Faith and Community Leadership and Human Services, an atmosphere of personal growth, restoration and support has begun to develop, and has continued to the point where those inmates outside of the CPI program have started to feel the effects of our education. Those around us see how we are working to become better citizens through the material we are learning, the opportunities presented to us by the program to help or give back, and the spiritually transforming actions from CPI staff, professors and fellow Knollcrest students, such as those who meet us through Inside-Out classes or at the Gospel Concert. In turn, our internal changes have affected those we interact with — our families and friends living outside these walls as well as our fellow inmates within. They get to experience our knowledge and learn from us a different way to live. Furthermore, they can live in an environment not intent on turning them into better criminals, but instead better people. This allows them to become the best versions of themselves — a flourishing version. But sometimes, as with any big undertaking, I think we need to be reminded of our original goal — to think deeply, act justly and live whole-heartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal.

We are undertaking this task of education in prison to help change the carceral setting to one which will allow men like the one who left us so recently to grow and live restoratively. Here at Handlon, we are accomplishing our task to some degree, but this is where my sadness comes from — in knowing once he has left our little restorative oasis, he is reentering a prison system intent on pushing him farther away from humanity and flourishing. Hopefully, he will find a small pocket to flourish within, as they exist in many facilities — but they are few and far between.

However, we must take his departure as a reminder that the reason why we are receiving our education, both CPI and Knollcrest students alike, is not simply for our benefit, but for the restoration of the fallen world around us as so tasked by God and supported through Calvin University. For when we have completed our task, none of us will need to worry about the flourishing of others when they have left our presence, because we will know there are others there to ensure the traveling party is arriving with Christlike love and support. So please, as you go about your week learning, studying and growing, do not forget the purpose of your education. Enact it now, so when you encounter others not in school, they will be able to flourish as well. Then we will no longer feel sad about the departure of one young man just trying to become the best version of himself.