The ECHO, Vol. 93, No. 5, Ed. 1 Tuesday, June 1, 2021 Page: 3 of 12
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June 2021
The ECHO
3
The Worthwhile Wait
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T
HE ABILITY OF HUMAN ADAPTA-
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Power was blissfully restored mid-week, and by
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When the power went out, the dorm I stay in had they braved the elements to deliver those coveted at the Murray Unit! ★
Grant Cook—Lynaugh Unit
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Weathering the storm
Laura Anne Cloy— Contributing Writer, Murray Unit
rotating around each other, staying upright
for a bit as if doing a ceremonial dance.
h Gradually, they gracefully found their
8 way to the hard ground where they lay
there was no mail going out or coming in. Cut
off from the outside world, residents and staff
hunkered down in the freezing darkness to ride
Getting a better look in West Texas:
Watch and learn
1
Each month. The ECHO features articles from contributing writers within TDCJ, as well as from those who have
been released and want to send hope and insight back inside. This page features a variety of columnists. Enjoy!
treasures to each dorm on the unit. Also, instead
of receiving Johnnies, hot meals were fixed and
delivered in warmers.
next to each other in their circular
security shield as if to recap the sce-
nario and compare notes.
As I watched in utter amazement,
I realized this was a lesson for me. I
watched those two young cats curl
up and go to sleep without a worry
in the world. Less than 20 minutes
earlier they were attacked, yet they put
V it behind them, helped each other, and
moved on. They decided to let it go and not
let their anger get the best of them.
So many sleepless nights I have tossed and turned,
thinking about the whys and the what-ifs, letting my
anger painfully poke and prod my mind, spirit and body.
I need to let God take my anger. Inside these con-
crete walls, there is only God to help me —and He
can help you, too. That is the security, the peace,
and the love. Just let it go, give it to God — and stay
away from the skunks.
AMEN! ★
depression or addiction or some type of and not allowing wicked things to make
immoral thing, yet they continue to sur- their nests in your mind.
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eg.
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0 hot w
frigid showers. The phones we
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was no different as they used each other’s bodies for probably seemed like a lifetime to them, they focused
heat and as shields from the gusting winds. The two on each other inspecting, smelling, and grooming
were more than content right out in the open air as each other as if to comfort and help the other in time
tion is truly remarkable out the storm.
y
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from my face and rolled over to admire the sun as I quickly closed my window, but 3
it slowly disappeared and to watch the amber secu- unfortunately not quietly; I had star- 3
rity lights as they started their glow on the sand tied all three of them. At first they
emergency lights and a h ater working on gener-
ator power. There was no hot. water, which meant ’■ iS
1 11 AH
ilAi HF
GeV
it an array of unfortunate happenings. Millions of
people were left without power, water pipes burst .
and wells froze over. Heads of livestock perished, was deliveredto residents. A hot.shower, a phone
and too many lives were lost in automobile acci- Genuine nraise is in order for the lionhearted ca home, and even being able to hear a song on the
dents due to black ice on the roads Genuine praise is in order tor the -onhearted radio-these are really little things that make a big
ce on the roads. manner in which those around me handled difference in our quality of life.
Texas prisons were no exception to the misery. this uncertain time. The rugged strength and
Officers and staff who were on duty when the first undaunted courage I witnessed were far beyond Thank you to the staff and officers who did
blast of winter weather hit often became stranded impressive. The situation was uncomfortable, but their best to see us through these weather-caused
[at work]. Instead of returning home to their families we all put our game faces on. We pulled together, difficulties, including the kitchen workers who
and children, they were given mattresses and camped making light of the circumstance and managed to helped get meals together and deliver them to us
in the administration building between shifts. The laugh quite a bit. The warden and the lieutenant’s and the nurses and medical staff who trudged
maintenance men and their crews worked fervently hard working crew spent countless hours on their through the ice and snow to deliver items like our
around the clock, working to keep all of the heaters feet. They used generator power in the kitchen to insulin and other needed medications. A shout
working around the unit. prep hot water, hot tea, and even potato soup! Then out to all who weathered the storm with us here
(/OMAN’S 1-........................-............................... -
•peUap ( Friday the worst of the weather had passed. Officers
" LERSPECIIVE
and staff were able to return home, and a ton of mail
I
e /qe9iuNi Uuib/ ; ; ..
Editor’s Note: Texas weather is notorious for extremes,
and many of us are. Ippking back to 2O21’s frozen February
days in amazement as summer heat becomes the new
normal. Laura Anne Cloy remembers challenging days
and the people who stepped up to help others.
and rocks below. Suddenly, something caught my all froze. As the two young cats were ‘V
attention. Laying no more than eight feet outside scrambling to get upright, the skunk had
my window was some sort of object that seemed suddenly made a vertical leap, spinning
out of place. The strangely shaped mass moving in around 180 degrees, strategically landing to
a circular motion grabbed my curiosity, so I put my perfectly deliver what looked to be a “PUFF” right
glasses back on to get a better look. into the faces of the startled cats. Now upright, they
To my surprise, it was two young cats rolling on seemed almost frozen in time, staring in disbelief
the ground and then curling up together in a ball, while gasping, sneezing and shaking their heads,
To my amusement, they faced each other and were trying to clear their watering eyes.
tucking their heads inside the circle while kicking I looked for the skunk and saw him at a slow jog as
their back legs and somehow pulling each other he left the scene of the crime. He simply vanished into
closer as they scooted in a tighter circle on their the darkness. As Ilooked hack at the two victims, they
sides. I recognized these two gray and white sib- stood in a delirious haze, trying to comprehend what
lings, noticing they were always together. Tonight had just happened. After a couple of minutes which
the sky darkened and the lights grew brighter. of need, never considering grooming themselves.
Then, out of the shadows came another cat. This Still having trouble focusing, they slowly started
rHE chilly West Texas breeze was pushing one was a tad bit larger and longer, and its tail was .
I across the barren terrain as I cracked my window more vertical. A breeze caused my glasses to ; da
for a cool bite of fresh air. The beautiful sunset caught fog up a bit. Before I could wipe them, the
my attention with its pallet of orange, peach; blue to third cat had now approached the oblivious Ad
turquoise, and the slowly fading silhouette of clouds two young cats. As I put on my glasses, I
just above the horizon. saw the two young ones were motionless.
I lay on my back thinking about the loved ones I also noticed the third cat had a rather
back home possibly seeing the same sunset and large white stripe down the length of its
counting my many blessings. I pulled my glasses blackbody.
By Ruben Constant? Jr.-ECHO Contributor, Released round themselves with things people 3. Maintain a servant’s atti-
l R -e =-=5 -
■ Bouncers for Tiles with atteast 30 letters: ■ —keep In order for salvation to
• Rentals 1 developed up with the demand, form the human heart, the person days, I heard many residents com-
an i ea or t e usi- Those moments rushed my mind as seeking transformation must sow plain about having to work for free
ness while observing I was nailing cardboard signs in neigh- good things and water that which was during, and the entire time I noticed
my two-year-old son not have many borhoods in Central Texas. Some folks sown with additional good things. If a common theme: they had the wrong
options w en it comes to Plazgroun thought I moved too quickly on this I expect my ministry or business to attitude. Lack of compensation isn’t
“wb?? 7 he, t0° sma i thought: new venture, because no one instantly experience success, then I must sow what caused us to commit a crime - a
• n a 1 ma 6 air cast eS an ot er jumped on the phone to book an air into it. I must water the seed and cul- morally bankrupt heart did. In other
inflatable fun available to him-and castle from me-but I didn’t agree. I tivate it properly. words, most of us had money in our
to other families?” recalled that nothing worthwhile is . we(nioy the season of -n, 10., pockets for the work we did prior to
Thus my new venture was born: a instantly made. , A Weenoy the ° ? ring et s getting locked ud so getting naid lor
smal weekend business. Inspired by sailation hetmindfulor hunenssary itistosow not gting paid fr wotk vaSmt the
mtLsorathisnewnseryieisnonoffering regeneration is instantaneous. We are forgodinessstofourish. Letesswter issus. We just had a bad attitude. In
enjoys (though he’s in the comfort of madesnew on the spot. We are justified our hearts with that Which allows for Christothen,wedo things the
our home). With that venture came by His grace immediately. There s no God’s Spirit to truly transform us from
the need for investments in inventory process regarding that the inside out. Consider four ways you 4- Capitalize on the mundane
tools and advertisement. Someone The process, however, is with the candothis: (Matthew 25:23). You may think you
once told me you need money to make transformation. 1. Examine your company have nothing to offer to others or to
money, and I realize that from first- You see, like my ministry and my busi- (Ephesians 5:11). The apostle Paul the’ utnothingcou , n urt er
hand experience. ness, salvation is a lifelong investment said that we are to have no fellowship . • 5 5° " 6 Va M 2 1 5 1S not
Thankfully, hard work and savings that only yields its fruit if you first sow with darkness. The more you surround 1 An 4. P opu arity or pres-
allowed me to get this venture off the and then water what’s sown. We can’t yourself with those who do not possess rr nurXTwhen scans
ground. While I was driving around expect God to change us and make us the new birth, the more you will stunt "S 6 61 .0
Seguin, San Marcos and New Braunfels new people if we aren’t willing to do the true growth in your life, because bad nnts IitL our 4 " resources
posting homemade signs, I remem- things necessary to make that possible, company corrupts good morals (1 Cor- we re maturitv and transformation
bered the process I went through to I’ve even heard people tell me about inthians 15:33)- We can’t reap apples if " deyginy as God olanned ation
get my ministry off the ground: get- their prayers to God, about begging we are sowing beans. ameapasoPanned-oseph
ting incorporated, applying for a 501 Him to remove from them the desire for . , to 80° us
(c)(3), getting a business account at marriage or for a certain spouse. 2. Guard your heart (Proverbs his stewardship skills. He served his
nLank etc 4:23)- In short, watch what you allow captors as he was serving the Lord.
But that s not how God works. your mind to meditate on. We can’t stop And God rewarded him.
I remembered that nothing worth- You and I cannot realistically expect the birds from flying over a tree, but we In the end, you are the only one
w i e is instant y created. God to remove a desire He placed within can stop them from making a nest in it. responsible for how you do your time
At first, no one expressed an interest us for relationship. If what we’re asking Temptation will always be around us, or whether that time does you! Resist
in my early ministry, and I felt as from God is a violation of His design and evil thoughts will always be thrown the victim mentality and all the subtle
though perhaps I had done something for our lives, then you can rest assured our way. The sin isn’t that temptation nuanced ways it presents itself. Take
wrong. But, after a few months, the mail that the prayer will go unanswered, exists; the sin is allowing the tempta- charge. Make wise investments. And
poured in. COVID-19 had just locked I’ve heard other brothers and sisters in tion to take root. Guarding your heart remember that nothing worthwhile is
down the world, and I had published the faith ask God to remove from them means guarding the tree of your soul enjoyed instantly. ★
? S ’ 7 ’
is,h‘-
MB.
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for residents and staff alike at
U the Lane Murray Unit as Texas
" weather showed out in true
fashion [last February]. An arctic
blast rolled through, bringing with
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Texas. Department of Criminal Justice. The ECHO, Vol. 93, No. 5, Ed. 1 Tuesday, June 1, 2021, newspaper, June 1, 2021; Huntsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1492082/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.