St. Dysmas is the name that was given to the repentant thief on the cross next to Jesus by the early church. Even though his name is not found in Scripture, he became the patron saint of prisoners. The following poem was composed by the Rev. Ed Nesselhuf, founder and director of PRISON CONGREGATIONS OF AMERICA. You may visit the Web Site: http://www.prisoncongregations.org for information regarding this ministry.

What was it like for you, Dysmas?
When you heard the knock on the door
And you heard the jangle of armor and swords
And you knew who the soldiers came for!

Did your throat turn as dry as a desert?
Did your hands get clammy with sweat?
When you knew in your heart your luck had run out
it was time to pay your debt.

What was that like for you, Dysmas?
When they led you away in chains
You knew that a pardon would not be an option.
Did fear run deep in your veins?

Your days on the run had now ended
When they slammed the door of your cell
And any hope vanished like mist in the wind
And you knew that you'd just entered hell!

What was that like for you, Dysmas?
When the gavel fell with a thud
And death was the sentence for all of your crimes
When the judge said, "You'll pay with your blood!"

Did you do some soul searching, Dysmas?
As you counted your remaining days
Did life get more precious with time running out?
Did you regret not changing your ways?

What was it like for you, Dysmas?
When they stretched you out on a cross
And hammers drove spikes that tore through your flesh
Did you think your whole life was a loss?

And what made you defend this Jesus?
Nailed and hanging alongside of you
When a third one had mocked this supposed Son of God
You replied,  We just got what we're due. 

But it struck you as wrong to see innocence die
What about him touched your heart?
You asked him to remember you when he rose
Apparently faith made a start.

Now, what was that like for you, Dysmas?
When Jesus answered he wouldn't forget
And promised you paradise that very day
He would take on himself all your debt!

Could you believe the promise he gave you?
Or was it just too good to be true?
You had nothing to offer except your own need
Why would God want a person like you?

Yet the answer is written in Scripture
The heart of our God is revealed.
A life that's all twisted and broken and bent
is mended and pardoned and healed.

Do you realize what you've done, Dysmas?
What you've allowed the whole world to see?
That if there's room in the Kingdom for someone like you
There's got to be room there for me!