Kenny Johnson: The Light Won't Die

"I had to find a power that would not only get me through my current sentence, but would free me from prison forever." Kenny Johnson

Kenny Johnson devoted his life to crime, beginning in his early teens, and served over twenty years in various city, county, state, and federal prisons.

During his early years in prison, he spent most of his time participating in all sorts of religious and substance abuse groups. Hopefully, in one of these groups he would hear the magic words that would release him from the grip of prison. It was his inner desire for freedom that led him and a band of truth-seekers to a meeting in the prison chapel. Gangaji, a spiritual teacher answered his most pressing  question:

"It is my understanding that we have to wait until we die before we can receive God's Grace. Is that so?" She replied, "Kenny, God's Grace is here now! Kenny you think you are a convict, you think you are your name, you think you are a black man. Kenny you are none of these things."

Thus, Kenny shattered, leaving him knowing his career as a criminal was over but not knowing how he would survive from this point on.

What drew me to Kenny was not his talk, which is both contagious and magnetic, but his walk. Born of this gift, shining with humility, gratitude and a deep sense of service, Kenny returned to prisons after his incarceration. He has tirelessly carried his message of love born of this stillness back into prisons. including the infamous San Quentin Prison.

"If there is anything worth serving, it's this love. If there is anything worth being, it's this love. If there is anything worth talking about it's this love. If there is anything of real value it's this love". - Kenny Johnson

Enjoy this first clip from our conversation. Some say (rightfully so) that I am guilty of interrupting interviewees. For this, I apologise.

In any case, what shines here shines in spite of the interviewer. Thank God. A transparent wonder.

Visit Kenny at www.thissacredspace.org.