There was a remarkable story in the news the other day.In 1974 James Bain, a 19-year-old black youth, was sent to prison in Florida for kidnap, rape and burglary.
While in prison, said his mother, he turned away from God because he thought God abandoned him. But she kept on at him, by phone and on visits, and "he came back around to find God again."
Jamie was in prison for 35 years from 1974 to 2009. In 2001, Florida passed a statute allowing cases to be reopened for DNA testing. Five times Jamie applied for the test. He was refused each time until an appeal court granted his application. His test proved he was innocent of the charges for which he was imprisoned. "Mr Bain, you are a free man," a judge told him.
Someone asked him if he was angry after serving so long for something he didn't do. "No, I'm not angry," he said, "because I've got God."
His mother is putting her house and her 1992 Toyota car in his name so that he can have something of his own. "He's suffered enough," she said.
Jamie, now 54 and grey haired, had been so worried about his mother, who had been in hospital several times. She was afraid she would die while he was still in prison. Then came news that he was to be released.
"Don't let go," he told her. "I'm coming home."
