Sobriety
As the president of Catalyst Rescue Mission it is my responsibility to protect the sobriety of the shelter. My role is to set policies and procedures that help make our clients’ choice to be sober a little easier. Part of these policies and procedures is training our staff on what to look for and how to search for contraband that comes through our front door. It is my job to help our staff identify “high behaviors” in our clients so that we can have positive conversations that lead to treatment and change.
At times, the responsibility to maintain the sobriety of the shelter feels overwhelming. No matter how many policies and procedures we have, we can’t “policy and procedure” away someone’s freewill human choice. Drugs have a powerful hold over people’s minds and behaviors. Good people make poor choices in order to get their next fix. I’ve had clients sit in front of me and tell me how much they care for their children. I’ve had clients sit in front of me and give me the list of their priorities. I’ve had the same clients defy their priorities and choose to use above all things. I hope to help them make different choices.
This past weekend we lost a client to an overdose. This was the first overdose that happened inside the shelter in the 5 ½ years I have overseen it. I’m writing this blog in honor of the young man, Antonio Tutt, who lost his life to addiction. He had MANY redeeming qualities and his life had promise outside of his addiction. He was a good person and had a good heart. He was working through the reasons why he chose drugs, and unfortunately he lost his life before he could get all of the answers he needed. I cared for him and desperately wanted something better for him. I realize that we all bear some responsibility in the world we have created that allows a drug like fentanyl to overtake people.
People use drugs for many different reasons, so we can’t lump all addicts under the same banner. Many are following patterns of behavior that have come from their family of origin. Some of our clients are trying to cope with past trauma. More often than not, addicts are trying to escape this world and numb their conscience so that they no longer “feel” the pain of this life. Why be a part of their sobriety journey? Why should we try to help others make sober choices?
Five hundred years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah the prophet wrote of what the Messiah would do when he arrived. These words describe the actions and character of the Messiah.
Isaiah 61:1-3 says, {1} The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, {2} to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, {3} and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
The Messiah will proclaim good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for captives, release prisoners from darkness, proclaim the Lord’s favor, and restore a spirit of joy and praise to those in despair. People ask me, “Why do you want to put yourself in a place where you are responsible for maintaining a sober living environment?” I am doing so in order to be a part of the ministry of the Messiah here on earth. I am here to proclaim good news to the poor. I am here to bind up the brokenhearted. I am here to proclaim freedom for captives. I am here to release prisoners from darkness. I am here to proclaim the Lord’s favor upon His people. I am here to help restore a spirit of joy and praise instead of despair.
Christians are to “seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness.” God wants nothing more than for addicts to be released from their addictions. We are to seek reconciling actions that help others overcome their addictions. What are the things that can be done in order to help people be released from their addictions? There are three things those addicted to drugs can do in order to begin the process of being released from their addiction.
1.) Be honest with themselves and others about the nature and substance of their addiction.
2.) Admit to themselves and others that they need help overcoming their addiction.
3.) Receive the help that is needed (work a program and mean it).
At face value these steps seem easy and intuitive. In the words of scripture, “for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). As Christians, we need to be people who point others toward the narrow way so they can find new life. If you or someone you love struggles with addiction, reach out and we will help get them connected to the resources they need. If you’d like to help Antonio’s family with funeral expenses I will be posting their GoFundMe in the comments.