Saw Eric this weekend. Earlier this year, he joined our 12-month residential Spiritual Recovery Program and stayed almost 6 months.
A thoughtful, bright and quiet 30-year old guy, Eric’s daily responsibilities at Helping Up Mission for about 3 months involved working as my assistant. Then one weekend he was gone!
While I think guys should stay till graduation, what I really want is for them to develop a spiritual recovery lifestyle and leave here different than they were when they arrived.
With Eric leaving when and how he did, I was disappointed. But, of course, my feelings are not what’s really important here!
So, when I saw him over the weekend, he shared that he was sorry he didn’t even get a chance to say good-bye. He got a job opportunity in his field with a boss who’s also in recovery.
The offer also included living with the boss, so Eric took it! Of course, I think it would have been good for him to stay longer, but I’m not the Holy Spirit. He looked and sounded good and I was glad to see him.
I told Eric that, while not a graduate, his recovery is what really matters. If that continues, then he will be another one of our HUM success stories and we will be very proud of him.
Eric does know what to do and is set-up well to be able to continue. It will work, if he works it…
…One Day at a Time,
Pastor Gary Byers
Deputy Director