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One Year Later — Remembering Auston

October 17th. A date that’s burned into my heart. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year. One whole year since that night — since everything changed. Around this time, I heard the sound that made my heart stop. Auston had fallen from his bunk. I didn’t see it happen, but I’ll never forget what came after — the silence, the panic, the helplessness that filled the room. There are some moments you can never unhear, never unfeel, and that one will stay with me for the rest of my life. I remember the chaos. The fear. The way time stopped, and all I could do was hope it wasn’t real. They took him away, and then came the silence — days of not knowing anything, of praying that maybe, somehow, he’d be okay. But on Sunday, October 20th, I got the confirmation I’d been dreading. Auston was gone. It doesn’t feel like a year has passed. Some days it feels like it just happened. Other days, it feels like a lifetime ago — like the world has moved on, but I’m still standing there, staring at the floor,...
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A Fortune That Hit Close to Home

I’ve never been one to really take fortune cookies seriously. Honestly, I usually just read them for a laugh or to see what silly little nugget of “wisdom” they give. Sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re just random, and usually, I just forget about them as soon as I finish the cookie. Today, though, something happened that made me pause. I went to Panda Express because I was craving some Chinese food, enjoyed my meal, and then, as usual, cracked open my fortune cookie. I read it, smiled, ate the cookie—and then I stopped. The fortune said: “Your hard work will soften the troubles of others.” Now, I don’t believe in predicting the future with little slips of paper, but that one line… it hit me. Hard. It made me think about all the nonprofit work I’m planning, the efforts I want to put into helping incarcerated people, and the ministry work I hope to grow. All of that work—every project, every idea, every late night and early morning—has one goal: to make someone’s life a little e...
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More Than a Moment: Why One Mistake Shouldn’t Define a Life

We live in a world that’s quick to judge and slow to understand. In a society obsessed with labels, people are too often reduced to a single chapter of their story—one choice, one failure, one moment of weakness. And what’s worse is that once that label is stuck to someone, it’s nearly impossible to peel off. No matter how hard a person works to grow, to change, to make amends, they remain shackled to that one moment. To most people, you are no longer a human being—you’re a headline, a record, a rumor. That’s the tragedy of our world today. We preach about second chances, but in practice, we rarely offer them. It’s as if the minute someone stumbles, society is ready with a permanent marker to write “failure,” “criminal,” “addict,” “felon,” or “broken” across their identity. But what gives us the right to define someone by their lowest point and ignore everything they’ve done since? Isn’t that the very definition of injustice? People are not their worst moments. They are not the mistake...
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Turning a Requirement into a Launch Pad

Today marked a turning point for me, even if it doesn’t look that way on the surface. Every Monday, I go to a group as part of my parole. In the past, I’ve had mixed feelings about it—most of the time I stayed quiet, only speaking when we went around and shared about our week. Honestly, I saw it as something to endure rather than something to engage in. But today was different. Jessica, who leads the group, introduced a new book she’s adapting for us. It’s technically meant for individual workbook-style use, but she’s reshaping it into group lessons. Today’s focus was on change and motivation . We went around the room twice—first to rank how important change was to us, and second to rank our confidence in our ability to change. Both times, I gave myself about a 9 or 10. When I explained why, I said something I’ve always believed deep down: everyone has to change. Sometimes change is bad, but it can also be good—it depends on how it’s implemented. As I spoke, the words just flowed. W...
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Embracing the Light — A New Season of Purpose

Today marks the first day of summer. There’s something gentle and powerful about that. The sun lingers a little longer. The world feels a bit warmer. And maybe, just maybe, it gives us a moment to breathe—to pause, reflect, and ask what really matters. I usually write earlier in the month, but life has a way of rearranging plans. Still, I believe in divine timing. I believe in quiet Saturdays and long days filled with hope. I believe in second chances—not just for people like me, but for anyone who's ever felt like they missed their moment. Today is a reminder that your moment is still here. A few summers ago, I was behind bars, uncertain of the future. Now, I’m walking in freedom, trying to build something beautiful out of everything I’ve been through. Each nonprofit I’m working on—whether it's about second chances, protecting young hearts, helping communities prepare, or honoring those we’ve lost—has grown from pain, purpose, and deep love. If this season finds you in a dark ...
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From the Inside Out: Why I’m Telling My Story

If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d be building nonprofits, writing blog posts, and trying to make a difference in the world, I probably would’ve laughed—or maybe just stared in silence, too tired to hope. My name is Rylee Piercefield, and this is more than just a blog. It’s a space for truth, for healing, and for rebuilding. For six years, I lived inside a system that was never meant to protect me or people like me. I saw lives destroyed by injustice. I watched innocent men suffer. I made mistakes—some small, some life-altering—and I’ve taken time to understand who I was, and more importantly, who I want to be. I’ve also seen beauty and resilience in places no one expects to find it. This blog is about all of that. It’s for people who want to see behind the headlines. For those who care about justice. For anyone who’s ever fallen and wondered if they could stand again. You’ll read about the people I met inside—like Auston, Skylar, Devin—and the foundations I’ve built to ho...
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How to Understand the Bible / The Key to Understanding the Bible

The Bible is God's Word to mankind. It is a book of SPIRITUAL TRUTH, so it must be understood through the Holy Spirit that indwells each believer. It greatly helps if the student has a genuine interest in the Word, is willing to study, and is willing to obey what He learns. The Bible should be taken literally whenever it makes sense to do so. The real KEY is to rightly divide the Word of Truth, as in 2nd Timothy 2:15 Let's memorize this verse: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, A workman that needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly dividing the word of truth." Most people divide the Bible into Old and New Testament. This is not God's design. The plan that God laid out for dividing the Bible is found in Ephesians 2. 1. How does God say we should divide the Bible? TIME PAST  - Ephesians 2:11 Has to do with Israel and the EARTH, Distinction was made between the Jew and the Gentile, between the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision. Gentiles were without Christ an...
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