Going home

Shortly after Justin (yes! that's his actual name!) joined our Circle in October 2019, he started sharing his deepest heart’s desire with us:  to go home to his parents in Oklahoma to serve them as they age.

In many ways, it's a simple desire.  Most of us dream much grander dreams for our lives.  In its simplicity, it’s a dream many prison residents hold in their heart of hearts.

Like many fellow residents, Justin’s greatest fear was to be released “too late.”  In other words, when one – or gosh forbid, both – of his parents had passed away.

For years, Justin held faithfully and uncompromisingly to his heart’s desire: go home to his parents. We’d hear about it repeatedly as he would step into his fantasy and share a small glimpse into it (which usually involved animals).

That his external circumstances didn’t support this dream did not tarnish Justin’s fervency in the dream. Arguably, it invited him to hold onto it even more powerfully.

Then, a law changed that opened the door to a possible resentencing.  Suddenly, there could be movement.  Again, Justin stood in his heart’s desire with all his might: get home to his parents.

Justin’s journey resembled so many of our journeys to our greatest treasure.

There’d be a faint light at the end of the narrow tunnel; it would be a freight train.

There’d be an opening; it was into a bottomless abyss.

There’d be a step up; it led straight into a brick wall.

Opening, wall.  Opening, wall.  Opening, wall.

Justin continued to hold true to his heart’s desire, unwavered.

No matter if we were celebrating a new opening or comforting him in a new setback, Justin never lost sight of his dream:  to be home with his parents.

On October 28, 2024, Justin was released from prison.  Four years early.  What a gift and blessing.

Justin was out, but he was not home.  He was thrown back into his old neighborhood, even driving down the street where he’d had his fateful accident.  (The palm tree he took out 15 years earlier had not been replaced.)  During his time in prison, his parents had moved to Oklahoma.  Justin was out of prison, but not yet home.

The rollercoaster continued.  Opening, wall.  Opening, wall.  At one point, it looked like Justin would be required to stay in California through his multi-year parole.  Again, his heart remained strong: getting home to his parents.

Well, to get to the punch line, last Wednesday, Justin fulfilled that dream. He flew (for the first time) to Oklahoma.  He’s now home with his parents (and their animals).

As a privileged observer of this journey, I will assert that, several times in the past years, Justin and his family reached the end of the Road of Options.  Even in these times, Justin would continue to hold in his heart his desire to be home with his parents.

If it feels like the man was a broken record, it’s because he was.  Justin never wavered. And thanks to his faith and determination, he’s now living out his greatest heart’s desire.

You have a choice: Take a page out of Justin’s book and stand for your dream unwaveringly, with all of your heart.  Regardless of the circumstances looking “great” or “grim,” stay committed.  Release your belief about your dream's proper timeline.  Or how it’s meant to look.  You too will, in all likelihood, see it come to fruition right before your very eyes.

 PS: Don't miss the super special, private 35-second video message below. To my ears and heart, it's the sound of awe, gratitude and true freedom of person and spirit.

Justin’s Day 1 of his Dream Life

Last Wednesday, having arrived home in Oklahoma, Justin sent a few of us a video message. It was a spontaneous and private recording. He accepted it be shared with you.

This is what Day 1 of living your dream sounds like. :-)