Sunday, December 14, 2025
Sunday Reflection: Subject of Grace
The end of the year is a combination of hurried and quiet for academics. The hallways are quiet, but for us there is a lot to get done: grading to do, finishing writing projects, and preparing for the next semester. I have been deep in a writing hole, which is a place I like to be.
On Friday I was getting ready to leave and went down to check my mail. There was a big box on top of the cubbies with my name on it.
I was curious-- I didn't expect a big box, as I hadn't ordered anything. Sometimes a big box like that contains reprints of an article, but it did not look like that kind of box. I took it back to my office and opened it up.
Inside was a cornucopia of things: A gorgeous leather travel bag, a leather belt, a stack of handmade winter hats, earrings and several wallets and satchels. They were all beautiful. They even included two crocheted animals they made for a student whose wife just had a baby.
There was also a note. It was from a man named Luke, who is in prison at Sandstone FCI. In part, the note said this:
Dear Professor Osler,
Here are some Christmas gifts from me and my friends here in Sandstone. We wanted you to know we were thinking of all of you as you advocate for us in the system. I explained to my friends that your students chose to take the clemency clinic with the sole purpose of helping people in prison...
Luke is not someone we have actually helped; he is still in prison and other lawyers have helped him with his petitions. He owes us nothing, not even thanks.
How is that for Christmas? How lucky am I, are we?
I've always been taken by Jesus's teaching that when we visit those in prison we visit Him (Matthew 25:36). But what does it mean when they visit you?
