As we observe Holy Week, I’m reminded of a meeting Danny Louque and I conducted in the St. John jail during this special week a few years ago.

For seven years, Get High on Life was privileged to hold a peer support group every Wednesday night. The meetings were strictly voluntary.

We were only able to have 45 men in the space available and always had a full group and a waiting list for other inmates interested in attending.

We encouraged everyone to participate, and they were anxious to be a part of something positive.

The meetings were started with three or four men singing Christian songs. Two of three men were assigned to read a scripture from the Bible and discuss it.

Once a month we were allowed to bring ice cream and cake to celebrate those who had birthdays during that month.

With all of the positive things that went on at the meetings, the most memorial Wednesday was during Holy Week one year.

I decided to have a “Washing of the Feet” ceremony to symbolize what Jesus did at the Last Supper.

I had never done anything like that before and I must admit I was a little nervous. I had a basin and a pitcher of water. I girded myself with a towel and asked for any volunteers to have their feet washed.

The first volunteer was Dequin. I knelt down to wash his feet and dried them. He immediately got up, gave me a hug, and said, “I love you, Mr. Keller.”

He then asked if he could wash the next man’s feet.

In all, 27 men out of 45 got their feet washed and, in turn, washed the feet of the next man in line.

During the session one man began to sing, “At the Cross, at the Cross, where I first saw the Light.”

It was the most spiritual function I ever witnessed.    

If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or e-mail: hkeller@comcast.net.