Recovery
Getting arrested was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It was 1990, and I left the scene of an accident from what would have been my second DUI in 31 days. That’s when God intervened and led me on a path to recovery.
When I was 13 years old, my parents got divorced. I was number six of seven kids, and my dad took off and was pretty much out of the picture from that point on. My mom, who was struggling as a single, divorced Catholic, started a divorce recovery group—that was important for her healing but also meant she was out of the house four to five nights a week. This left us seven kids home alone with no one to enforce the rules, which ended up being a recipe for disaster.
My older brothers and sisters were into drugs and alcohol, and my closest older sister was dating a drug dealer. I got drugs from him and started selling and doing drugs at age 13. When I registered for my freshman year of high school, I was high on acid. That’s how I lived my life for the next 16 years.
I started working at Valspar when I was 19, and even though my personal life was a mess, I managed to be a good employee and hold onto that job. I had been there for 10 years when I got in trouble with the law. The police came to Valspar and took me out in handcuffs after I drove away drunk from the scene of a minor accident. No one was hurt, but they easily could have been because of my carelessness.
On the morning I returned to work, instead of firing me, my boss said he wanted to help me, and he got me into a 21-day treatment program. It meant a lot to me that he actually cared. I asked if I could have a few days before going, so they set me up to start on a Monday. I had three days to get in one final weekend of drinking and partying.
But on that Friday, God tapped me on the shoulder. I didn’t really know God at that point in my life. I had been raised Catholic, but I didn’t know what it meant to have a personal relationship with Jesus. I was just sitting alone and felt like I needed to change my life. I felt God telling me, I’m here for you—just like my boss had said to me. I entered the treatment program that Monday completely clean.
When I got out of treatment, I started attending AA meetings, and that’s where I met a man named Al who invited me to church, and my life hasn’t been the same since. I started serving in the church, and the hole that was missing in my life was filled. I had a purpose. I was baptized on June 23, 1991, the day after my 30th birthday.
Four years later, I met my wife, Barb, at church. In 1995 we got married, and I had a ready-made family with her two girls, Ashley and Sara. What a gift that was to me!
My hope now is that the best days are still ahead of me and that I can always see people in the ways God and others saw me. If you’re struggling with anything that has had a negative impact on your life or the lives of those around you, I encourage you to join a Recovery Group at Hope. We’re here for you.
There are many verses that have helped me in my walk with God, but here are a couple of my favorites:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
—Philippians 4:1
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
—1 Corinthians 10:13
The serenity prayer:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Find more information on Recovery Groups HERE.