Changed Forever
It still seems unreal that they killed him.
I sat at the cemetery last Saturday and
cried "How could they have done this to
you???" The death penalty is strictly
about vengeance perpetrated to further
political goals. Even murder victims'
families are further victimized by this
insanity .The grief process has been
outlined by Elizabeth Kuebler Ross, an
expert in die field. The stages are: denial
& isolation, anger, bargaining,
depression, and acceptance. Many
victims' rights groups keep people stuck
in the anger stage. And as long as one is
stuck in that stage, healing cannot occur .
People do not realize that this it what is
happening to them. They are also made
to feel guilty if they move on from their
anger. If they don't stay angry, maybe
they didn't really care enough for their
loved one. But only compassion and
reconciliation can bring the healing for
which they yearn.
My life was changed forever as I watched
them kill Michael. A person gets a new
understanding of what it meant to sit at
the foot of the cross. I was horrified to
see how quickly a life which God has
given could be extinguished--and that all
being very legal. What a waste!! On so
many counts. Had someone been there to
help Michael all those many years ago
when he was struggling with some very
difficult issues, he would never have had
to go to death row. The papers portrayed
Michael as a heartless killer with a deep-
seated rage. The truth is that was not
at all what was at the core of Michael's
being. Michael was a beautiful child of
God. God doesn't make junk. Not
EVER! ! Deep inside Michael, the little
boy which God created was always
present. Yes, he lost his way over time.
Many extremely hurtful experiences
filled him with so much pain--many of
those experiences garnered during
Michael's first stay in TDCJ. When the
pain became too much, Michael
expressed it as rage. And that type of
rage is experienced by only the most
sensitive of men. The greater the rage,
the greater the sensitivity underneath.
Michael was both saint and sinner, as are
we all. When Michael began his walk
with God, he let go of much of the pain
and all of the rage. He let the Lord quiet
his soul, heal his wounds so that they
became scars, and he found peace in his
heart and soul. Michael truly had the
peace which passes understanding.
And let us not forget the victims who are
most often forgotten in this ordeal---
Michael's family and friends. Michael
wanted me to learn from witnessing his
execution. I learned so much in that
short time. I learned how things must
change NOW! !--even as the executions
continue. -I learned that it isn't right for
people not to be able to have photos of a
loved one until they are DEAD! ! I saw
them touch his corpse. All of us wanted
to finally touch him. The first time in
over 15 years that his family had been
able to touch him--after he was DEAD! !
That is wrong! ! I know his friends would
have submitted to the most intrusive
body searches imaginable if it meant that
they would have been able to give him a
hug before the execution. I suspect his
family would have felt the same. I
seriously doubt that any of us would have
presented any threat at all to security .
People talk about closure for the murder
victims' family .What about closure for
the family of the executed? Are they any
less important? Is their grief and loss any
less real?
The greatest thing which Michael did for
me was to teach me to pray with others.
So I leave you with this prayer.
"God of compassion and mercy whose
presence is felt even in the darkest of
times, the Almighty who knows all and
understands all, I thank You for the life
of Michael Sharp. I thank you for letting
his life touch mine. For Michael's
guidance in helping me and so many
others grow in our faith in You. I join
You in celebration of Michael's new life
in Christ Jesus, who loved Michael and
had compassion on him.
I pray for the families of all murder
victims. May they feel Your healing
touch and Your presence in their lives so
that they may fwd acceptance and peace
and be open to reconciliation. I pray for
the men and women on Death Row, that
they may be kept safe from any harm and
that they learn to know your love and the
peace which comes with the knowledge
of Christ as Savior. I pray for the family
and friends of those on Death Row.
Comfort these people as they struggle to
support their loved ones and battle for
their lives. I pray especially today (12-9-
97) for Michael Lockhart and his loved
ones. Give them strength and courage as
they face Michael's execution this
evening. Comfort those who love him in
their sorrow. I pray for all guards and
employees of TDCJ--especially those
who work on the Ellis Unit. Help them
to always act professionally and
compassionately in their dealings. Help
them to see that respect will be met with
respect. I pray for those who execute
prisoners, that they be forgiven for this
sinful act. I pray for our politicians.
Help them to be leaders who work for the
good of all people in our society.
I pray for all those whose hearts are cold
and filled with hatred for murderers. If
their hatred stems from their own pain, I
pray that they will fwd healing and then
find love and compassion. And I pray for
those in our society who have yet to
become murderers. I pray that some gentle soul will reach out to
them in their pain and lead them to Your healing touch before
their pain leads to a rage which is destructive. Lead us in
healing our society at its very core. Help us to spread Your peace and love
in every aspect of our lives.
I look forward to the day when I will be reunited with Michael
at the everlasting feast at Your table, Lord God.
Lead me and guide me in Your way until that day
of celebration comes for me. I ask all of this in the mane of Jesus Christ,
our Savior. Amen"
And Michael, I hope you haven't forgotten to ask
God if you can be the LHP angel!! :-)
by Karen Sebung
Executive Director
I can't even really tell you when I met
Michael Sharp. It was through a letter
sent in a letter from Gene Hathorn---
probably nearly 2 years ago. We were
discussing the LHP already back then
before I had gotten involved. Last
January I made the decision to commit
my "free time" to the LHP and that's
when Michael and I got to know each
other really well. I figured if Michael
could take a stand on behalf of the other
prisoners which cost him his freedom,
then I needed to take a more activist
stand on working against the death
penalty .After that, Michael and I were
in constant correspondence. He and I
worked so well together that I teased him
that we would be absolutely dangerous
together in the free world. The amount
of work he and I could put out together
was phenomenal--always with Michael
shouldering the greater load. Over time,
we became the best of friends.