Joe’s been at Helping Up Mission for 6 months. 30-something, he arrived here from the hospital after an overdose.
His chemical addiction and lifestyle alienated Joe from his family. They loved him and even enabled him with money when he “needed” it for a while. But eventually enabling gets old, too.
So Joe found himself on the streets with no visible support. He did a bunch of things that got him arrested and decided he couldn’t think of any good reason to get clean or to go on living.
So Joe took a bunch of pills and laid down to die. But someone found him, called an ambulance, got him to the hospital and saved his life.
Afterwards Joe was grateful. Turns out he didn’t want to die, after all!
His sister, who wouldn’t enable him and who Joe describes as a very strong woman, helped him get here. By that point, Joe not only wanted to live, he wanted to make the most of every day.
As a member of our 12-month residential Spiritual Recovery Program, Joe goes to classes every day, has weekly counseling and does a daily work therapy responsibility. When we talked this week, he was diligently cleaning our board of directors meeting room.
Joe shared that at an earlier time in his life he had a good job, made good money and had lots of stuff. But he just wasn’t happy and that’s when he tried drugs to help fill that void.
Today, after 6 months in our Spiritual Recovery Program, Joe says he has all he needs for now. In fact, he added, “I’ve got nothing now, but am actually happier than when I had stuff!”
I’ve heard that before! Maybe Proverbs 15:15 really does work! See:http://helpingupmission.blogspot.com/2014/08/proverb-for-day-1515-oppressed.html
One Day at a Time,
Pastor Gary Byers
Deputy Director