coaching on a regular basis from me, and, importantly, found ways to serve others through the church. What happened was that, bit by bit, he found his place in God’s big story and realized that he was deeply loved and valued, that he belonged, that he was acceptable, and that he could make a difference for the better. In community with other church members, Dan found his mean- ing and his purpose in life. He learned to drop his resentments and to be free to love and forgive himself and others. He found a cure for his inner shame and peace for his wounded spirit. What happened to Dan is a great example of the complicated challenges of reentry and how tough it can be for many men and women to survive spiritu- ally on the outside. It isn’t just Dan’s story; nearly every returning citizen has a similar story dealing with their own case of “short-timer’s disease,” unrealistic expectations, a lack of careful planning and communication, the awkward ex- perience of adapting to life on the outside, and the sobering realization that life is wonderful...but hard.
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