Christmas Tidings

A man spent cold Christmas evening and the following week through New Years huddled in this little concrete doorway on Singleton in a pile of filthy trash. He told me the tail of having only 50 cents for his Christmas to call a friend for 15 minutes. His shoes were several sizes too small and he had no long pants- he did not really care. He was a man who knew Christ and he figured that he deserved all that he got because he was unable to be the man he was called to be. This broken man hunkered in that abandoned doorway in the stench of human waste wishing he would not wake up. After a few days ravenous hunger & thirst drove the man to the trash cans of a near by gas pump, there was nothing there. He collapsed back into his frigid tomb waiting for the end. His will was gone and he had no fight left to even ask for help. The local merchant noticed that he was there and his family took pity on the man and began to leave food next to the doorway. Like a whisper the thought crept in "Does He not even feed the sparrows?" This man who once thought himself mighty in his own eyes, who once built many chemical plants and even a nuclear facility, who studied science, who spoke well, who married and raised sons, who had friends and was thought a good friend, who seemed to have all that life provided was laid low and destitute. He was a sparrow being fed by the Lord through these strangers in the ghetto. The man survived. he went on to graduate from college and reconcile with his sons. The hard times have scarred him forever but bonded the man to Christ through suffering. Today he serves knowing he will only be sufficient through Christ.

I should know. When I pass that doorway- gone now, just an empty slab, my eyes still feel the tears of gratitude for those cold burgers left on the post by the opening. I drive home to a warm place of love and acceptance. There is food in the fridge and two cats to pet. They are named Gracie & Mercy so I never forget what brought me through. 

You may have a similar story. There may be times that you can put your finger on that were turning points. Use them to build something new. Your greatest defeats can become your greatest assets with Christ. 

Powerlessness, Unmanageability, Coming to Believe, Turning over Your Will, an inventory and, well you know the rest. These steps are the way of life for those of us in recovery whatever we call it. Recovery means being the best person you can be with the tools you are provided. It is surrendering to win. If you have something to say about this, add it here. If you have a question. Then we will start a dialogue. Recovery is not a matter of life or death, it is more important than that.