 Real
help! How can we offer real help to someone in the throws of
unproductive living (like addiction)? It is an absolute truth, that
someone who does not want to change the destructive behaviors in their
lives, will not; in spite of all that you or I may do to the contrary.
They, like the Prodigal Son of Luke 15:11-20, must first expend all
their “wealth,” (their family, friends, employers, social service
agencies, etc., etc.), until they “hit bottom” and come to their senses.
It is only then that true recovery from an unproductive life-style can
begin. In the beginning, we do not change when we see the light, but
only change when we feel the heat! As an example, bailing a loved one
out of jail for an addiction related offense such as public intoxication
or a DUI removes the very “heat” that will eventually cause this person
to come to their senses. The same with offering money to a person
holding a sign “WILL WORK FOR FOOD. GOD BLESS.” Most of the time such
charity only goes as far as the nearest liquor store. Offering real help
begins when a person comes to their senses, and recognizes that they
need to make some changes in their behavior. Until then, we at the
Mission continue to give individuals another shot, short-term, when they
say they really want to change this time. If, by their behavior, they
show us that they are not serious, we set a last day for them to stay at
the Mission. How many “bottoms” must a person hit before they come to
their senses? As many as it takes! Be careful of extending this painful,
increasingly destructive period in an addict’s or drunk’s life by
pulling them “out of the fire,” when the best thing you can do is to let
them “cook.” Sad but true, the final bottom is death. We have had 16
individuals that we have tried to help who decided to go out for “one
more go round” and never made it. They died. Nonetheless, real help is
what we all should be aiming for and that is what we attempt to offer,
by the grace of God, to all that come to us in need.Real Help for The Homeless!Continued from Page 1 Within 3 days of their arrival, each of our guests is required to
meet with a case manager, where they are asked, “What brought you to the
Mission”, and “What can we do to help you?”. A mutually agreed upon
program plan is established between the guest and the case manager, and
the guest is given the opportunity, with accountability, to work on the
issues that contributed to their homelessness. Referrals are made to
agencies such as Health Care for the Homeless, the Veteran’s
Administration, and drug and alcohol rehab centers. Although it may come
as a surprise, our guests are encouraged not to seek employment
initially, unless they come with a family to care for. More often than
not, our guests have no family—they have burned every bridge of support
on their road to homelessness. They most likely have held a job or jobs,
but their underlying unresolved issues have kept them from remaining
employed. The Mission’s approach is to help each guest to deal with
their past and their problems, and when they are ready to make the step
into independent living, then they will seek full-time work. Please read the related story on Page 3 to see how the Real Help Card truly made a difference in a guest’s life! |
