Cory* is sharing about how even though he has a job, a roof overhead, and is back in school just weeks out of inpatient, he expects more of himself. He is frustrated that he still doesn't have a car and is embarrassed to even talk to girls as he doesn't imagine "Wanna go out this weekend? Oh, by the way, can you pick me up at my halfway house?" is an effective pick-up line.
The group empathizes with Cory. They are all in similar situations, though they point out that Cory needs to recognize the progress he has made in such a short time. Cory is receptive to the feedback but finds it hard to accept that he still isn't where he was before drugs took over his life-an honor roll student with a full-ride basketball scholarship to Duke.
Clint* speaks up, "You and I, Cory, we're a lot alike. We both have a strong sense of pride. We like to do things on our own, in our own way. We don't think we need help."
Clint has the attention of the whole group now and continues, "I have this theory, and I think I'm right. You see, I think before we came to earth, God spoke with us. He said, 'I'm going to make you a drug addict when I send you to earth, because that's the only way you're going to be humbled enough to turn and find me in your life.' And we accepted it."
Cory is obviously touched by Clint's words. We all are. Cory replies, "You're right. I had everything before my addiction. Everything except God. So, really, I had nothing. Now, I am rebuilding with Him as my foundation, and it's an entirely different life with entirely different meaning."
It's one of those nights when I walk away from group with a feeling rarely felt in my line of work--HOPE. Hope because I know God loves His children and that His power is stronger than the statistics for recovery in addiction. Hope because I know that even if I don't have the right words to say, He will carry that love to the hearts of my clients and all others who are ready to hear it. Hope because of the scripture that kept replaying in my mind as Cory and Clint shared:
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
"In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" -Romans 8:18, 37-39
*Names and minor details have been changed to protect identities.
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