Essay On Jonathan Wayne Nobles

On September 13, 1986, Jonathan Wayne Nobles was found guilty of stabbing Kelly Joan Farquhar four times in the heart and slashed her throat, as well as stabbing Mitzi Johnson Nalley twenty-eight times. Nobles also had stabbed Ron Ross nineteen times, but Ross survived the stabbing. Nobles was sentenced to death and was held at Ellis prison in Texas. Soon after being sentenced, Nobles began writing to Steve Earle. Earle is a singer-songwriter who had battled drug addiction and was in and out of prison. For over ten years both men wrote to each other. During the last few weeks, before Noble's death, Earle and Nobles met face to face. They talked about life, discussed final decisions, and enjoyed each other’s company. Steve Earle wrote about

He started attending mass and became friends with the catholic clergy in the prison. After his conversion, Nobles become very interested in the Dominican Order of Preachers and desired becoming one. Nobles did just that and entered in as a Lay Dominican. The Lay Dominican do not accept just anyone. There are many rules the members go by. One rule found on The Dominican Province of St. Dominic webpage says, “Within the Church they have a distinctive character in both their spirituality and service to God and neighbor. As members of the Order, they participate in its apostolic mission though prayer, study, and preaching according to the state of the laity.” These members are fully committed to what they are being called to do, which is reaching people and teaching them about Jesus. To be chosen, one must show they have the character and willingness to serve God. Obviously, Nobles had shown through his character that he had changed. He was no longer the monster that everyone thought him to be. He fully committed his life to the teaching of God to his fellow inmates. Nobles even stood as godfather at an inmate’s baptism and also officiated at a mass that was held before the execution of the inmate he had baptized. Why would he ever devote all those years and all the time if he wasn’t truly changed? He had confessed to the murders he had committed and would be put to death no matter what. Instead of wreaking havoc on the prison and the officers, he changed for the