Can Hope Survive Death Row?

I cannot think of anything more hopeless than being a death row inmate, except maybe a death row inmate who is innocent. That was the situation with Anthony Ray Hinton. He was falsely accused, and wrongfully sentenced to death on Alabama’s death row. As a boy, his mother had taught him about God, and he knew the Bible, but when he was convicted, he went through a trial of faith that led him down the dark path of anger, bitterness, and a desire for revenge. Then one day, he came to a crossroads. He realized that in spite of all the choices that had been taken away from him, he still had some he could make. His freedom to choose how to respond was still intact. He could continue to choose hate, anger and revenge, or he could choose love, hope, and faith. No one could take that from him.

He chose hope, love and faith, and from that forward he became a force for good while still an inmate facing execution for a crime he hadn’t committed. His story is a powerful lesson for anyone in a tough spot. If an innocent death row inmate can choose hope. Maybe I can as well.

You can read his story or listen to it on Audible here.

Also, here is a video I posted to my Youtube channel.