These Are The Days of Miracles & Wonders

Don Kirchner is the founder of High Ground Productions, Inc. As author of the book, "A Matter Of Time", and founder of Return To Honor, he provides the inspiration and dedication to the entire RTH and HGP team to bring about personal freedom and awakening through stories, books and films that uplift the human spirit and that exemplify personal courage and heroism. Don attended Colorado State University before joining the U.S. Army and serving a tour of duty in Vietnam as a Chief Warrant Officer and combat helicopter pilot.

Miracles and Wonders

These are the days of "miracles and wonders," as Paul Simon wrote and sang. They are also among the most challenging in recent memory...9/11 notwithstanding. These are the times for us to reassess and re-evaluate what and how we do things, and how we relate with one another. There is no segment of society more significant to me in saying that than those who are or have been incarcerated, for the sheer number of them is staggering to comprehend the full significance on everyone they impact. If you realize that everyone of us impacts in some way at least ten people, then the 2 1/2 million men, women and children now locked up, together with the nearly ten million who have been locked up and who are on the streets now, there is virtually no one who isn't affected by what happens to them.

To do something meaningful to bring about a positive change doesn't take that much...only a willingness to understand the causes of criminal behavior rather than reacting to the symptoms. As one who spent 2 1/2 years in several of the worst of federal prisons until my release...with honor and commendations...I can tell you that the majority of them want to live their lives more meaningfully. They just don't know how, or where to start, or whom to trust. Many of them were born into lives of crime, and were never shown anything different. I write to over a hundred inmates, and every one of them longs for a better way...not just to get out of prisons of walls and bars, but of the invisible bars and walls outside. For many of them, life has been its own prison...and, I believe, it's much the same for many of us.

Fortunately, the Bush administration in its last couple of years managed to do something profoundly good, which was to begin the series of "White House Summits" on re-entry programs and awareness, and the movement that is now underway in this country is astounding. "Re-entry" offices are being set up in states and big cities across the country...challenged only at this time by the current economic "recovery," I prefer to call this present economic crisis of ours. As we pull out of this recession and put money into re-entry programs, there will be "miracles and wonders" taking place everywhere as highly incentivized former offenders take their places in society as "recovered" offenders with a purpose, new meaning and hope for their...and our...futures. I invite and urge you to give them the benefit of the doubt, and perhaps we can continue on in this century as a truly civilized society. If we do, crime and criminal behavior will diminish by such a high rate it will truly be a miracle and wonder.

Don Kirchner
Sedona, AZ