This week we welcome guest speaker the Rev. T. Carlos (Tim) Anderson, author of There is a Balm in Huntsville: A True Story of Tragedy and Restoration from the Heart of the Texas Prison System. The book tells the story of a man serving forty years in prison for killing two people while driving drunk, and his encounter with the parents of the victims through Texas's Victim-Offender Dialogue program:
"Writing There is a Balm in Huntsville has opened my eyes to something I was only vaguely aware of previously: the concept of Restorative Justice. In the book's narrative, you'll read about it as 'repairing the harm done by crime beyond what happens in the courtroom' and also as 'the opportunity for a crime victim to find hope and resolution.'
"Healing does come from the vulnerable sharing of one’s pain. I’ve seen this happen before in pastoral ministry. But researching this project and speaking with dozens of crime victims and Restorative Justice advocates, many whose stories are a part of this book, have made me aware of a whole new level of healing that is, frankly, astounding and unfathomable."
You can find out more about the book from a recent episode of the Texas Standard,
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