Eventually, for most of us, we hit bottom. Personally, professionally, spiritually, there is a point where defeat seems imminent.
Sometimes, though, having nothing left to lose is one of the most powerful times in our lives. It’s darkest before dawn, as they say.
Addiction and recovery are like that. Addiction makes seeing clearly hard to do until calamity is before us. Some can make it through recovery alone, but most need help.
That “dark bottom” sometimes comes from external forces, but other times, we find it by ourselves.
At 22, Brandon was a master manipulator, doing whatever he needed, crashing from place to place to place. With no real home and little family connection left, Brandon was trapped in an addiction cycle, constantly high, numbing himself against a life lacking meaning and permanence.
Courageously, Brandon turned to his mom for help, admitting defeat in addiction. Having heard about Welcome Home Addiction Recovery Academy from a friend, Judy suggested the program. Brandon detoxed, then joined Welcome Home, resolved to beat addiction.
Despite the problems Brandon had caused for his parents, Judy was reluctant to send him across the country. As she cried to her husband, he said Brandon’s recovery was now a matter of life-or-death. Judy turned again to her friend who had told her about Welcome Home.
“Have faith,” her friend said. “This is what blind faith is about.” Judy clung to those words.
On Mother’s Day last year, Brandon, head high and shoulders back, looked Judy in the eye and said, “Mom, this program is saving my life. I’m learning life skills to help me cope so that I don’t return to my addictions.”
There’s only so much Welcome Home can do to change its students’ lives. The students must crawl through their own dark places and find whatever light they can. All Welcome Home can do is help by bringing them tools for success.
Welcome Home’s founder and benefactor John Volken had a $200-million payday from selling his successful furniture chain United Furniture Warehouse, and he wanted his money to help change lives. After nearly a decade of conducting global research, along with consulting the community and leaders about various social causes, John found that addiction and recovery spoke to him.
Enter Welcome Home. For a minimum of two years, the organization provides everything to its students: from residences to nutritional planning, job training and education to therapy, through to yoga and re-learning how to have good clean fun.
Brandon’s graduation day soon looms, but those in his life think Brandon is a new man.
It’s a stark contrast to the boy he was two years ago. Today, Brandon accepts responsibility, is a leader, and understands life is for those who are willing to work for what they want. It’s a clean, accomplished life that Brandon seeks, crediting his family, Welcome Home, service, hard work, and God for helping him find his way to a better life.
Judy writes, “Words cannot express how grateful we are. For any parents feeling just like I did in the beginning, let me say one thing: Have faith! The journey is so worth it!”
Recovery is a life-long road, a chronic treatment. Much determines if we make it through successfully, but it ultimately comes down to two things that we all need for success in life: faith and courage.
If you know someone ready to make the commitment to recovery, Welcome Home can help them get there. Call toll-free at 1-855-592-3001. Learn more at http://whrecovery.org/.
Photo (Flickr CC) by Colton Witt.
