Once a week, as a Spiritual Advisor for Keystone Rehabilitation Center, I would speak at a session on spirituality stressing its importance in the recovery process. One day I was early, so I decided to wander through the halls and visit with some of the patients.
As I walked down a long corridor, I met a young lady slowly making her way back to her room – obviously to take a nap! I said hello and invited her to spirituality. Her response to me was simple and to the point.
“F**K OFF!”
Her response was not what caught my attention. If Google images could direct you to a picture of just one meth addict, it would take you to her picture!
Her hair was “unkempt” (did I say that politely enough?) with dark roots showing through the medium length that was blond, silver, and red with a streak or two of green. What skin was exposed was covered with tattoos and she had more body piercing than I had ever seen! Her eyebrows, ears, lips, and nose had multiple rings and pins! Now, I'M NOT judging; just saying! When I looked beyond the hair, tattoos, and piercings, the thing that shocked me was her –
EMPTY EYES.
If the eyes are a window to the soul, then her soul was empty.
I wasn’t offended by her response to my invitation to spirituality. I simply said, “Well, ok, have a nice day” and continued on my way knowing I would never see her in spirituality!
To my complete surprise, she attended the River of Life Community Church the next Sunday! After attending a few times, she acknowledged Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior and was baptized.
After an extended stay at Keystone, she returned home and sought out a church. At the end of the message during the first time she and her family attended, the pastor asked if anyone would like to share what God had done in their lives. Before she could contain her, her daughter jumped up and shouted, much to mom’s embarrassment, “My mom is a meth addict!” The young daughter went on to tell what a difference God had made in her Mom’s life and, consequently, in their family!
After the service, a couple of people approached this “former-meth-addict” and confessed they, too, had a problem and needed help. It was then that God used her to start a support group for addicts in that church and community!
The last I knew she was still clean and God was continuing to use her to make a difference in her family, church, and community!
1. God loved her
2. God had a plan for her life
3. God is using her to change the world
Amazing grace; amazing love!
