Long Creek is one of my favorite venues in which I perform each year.  Actually, they have me twice a year, summer and winter.  Because of security reasons - it is a youth detention facility - I am unable to bring Rose with me as she is a minor.  So usually I go alone into South Portland early on a given Saturday for their 9:00 AM chapel service.  This was the case again last weekend, and it was well worth waking early and hitting the road.

When I arrived at Long Creek, I noticed that the officer at the front desk was new.  He is the third guard I can remember since the Long Creek moved into its new fully locked down facility.  The first one I recall experienced more than his share of stress from my visits.  The thing is, our show uses so many props, they can't realistically go through every item I bring with me, and a few times I brought in props that, well, weren't appreciated.  One was a steak knife, and another time a lighter and a third time it was some chemicals.  In my defense, all three times the items were well secured on the stage area and it was virtually impossible for any of the kids to get hold of them.  Nonetheless, word got back to the front desk, he got reamed out for not picking up on it, and he just never seemed to welcome me with open arms.

The second desk officer was a much younger guy.  I had learned what items to leave out in my van by the time he was hired, and things went along smoothly each time I came in under his supervision.  He was there a year or two, and this time it was a new guard again.  Once I checked in with him and I turned to go back to the van to unload, he said to me, "I've been praying for your show."  Just one simple sentence, but it carried a lot of meaning: "I am a fellow believer," "I appreciate your coming in for these kids", "I support your message". 

Once inside, with the facility's two chaplains, a large group of teens were escorted into the chapel and the service began.  Sometimes it's hard to explain why a good program is good, but this one was very good.  The routines were spot on, but that's not the only factor on a morning like last Saturday.  The teens loved the routines and appreciated my coming to be with them, but it was more than that, too.  When I got serious at the end and discussed God as a loving father seeking to regain what is His (all of us), they hung on every word.  But the show was bigger even than that. 

I suppose it all goes back to the prayers of an unassuming middle aged guy at the front desk. 

Thank you.