On the outside everything looked great, good ole church going American family. The house, the good looking kids, dirt bikes, marriage, and I would assume a dog I mean why not everything else was picture perfect. The thing is underneath the surface, Brian had been concealing his massive problem with prescription narcotics. For years Brian went from doctor to doctor and when that ran out Brian was forced to get his drugs from the streets. Was not long before things started to unravel for Brian and one occasion Brian should have been dead when he ran his truck head on in to a telephone pole.
When Brian came to TMTL he had absolutely lost everything, and was in the middle of a divorce. The biggest problems Brian had to face was not so much his drug addiction but a whole host of lies his mind had lead him to believe. Guilt and shame plagued him, fear immobilized him, and his pride would not allow him to become real with himself. When I first met Brian I had asked him “so how are you doing” and his answer was typical of any guy “Oh I’m good” I proceded to tell him he did not have to lie to me. And that started us down a long hard road!
Jacob, Aaron, Devin, those are the names of his three precious boys that I have grown very close to. Brian was in and out of the TMTL for about two years never capable of getting honest, but his boys remained in my life. During one of those times that Brian was gone, I lead a youth retreat that Aaron, his middle son attended and in a questionnaire Aaron labeled his dad as his hero. Brian called us for help again and Carmin had the opportunity to tell Brian who Aaron considered to be his hero, after a long pause Brian asked in a quite shaken voice “he said that”? That was the beginning of Brian’s true recovery journey. When Brian came back to TMTL I wrote the word HERO on the bill of his hat to remind him that he was still indeed loved and cherished by those boys!
Is not funny how God’s grace works, how unconditional his love is, and how that love was manifested through Brian’s children! The very thing we all need to break through our hurts and hang ups is God’s mercy and grace that was communicated very loudly to Brian in that very simple yet highly esteemed word “HERO”. Brian has over a year and half clean and free, has his own place, continues to serve through service work, has a great job and the connection between Brian and his boys is undeniable. Brian holds his head up high, and walks confidently in who he is becoming in the Lord!
“I came to TMTL because the courts said it was either 90 days here or 2 years in prison. A lifetime of addiction had left me trapped in a cycle of selfishly trying to find happiness through gambling and other “quick fix” feel good things. I began counting the days until I could leave but after working with Joe and Carmin and being exposed to the success of the other men here I am learning to deal with my feelings and improve my relationship with God and my family. I really feel good about my future now, I am learning to do things for other people and that makes me feel GREAT! I no longer count the days until I can leave. I now look forward to waking up at TMTL and I am excited about learning what God has in store for my future. TMTL has not only saved my life it has given my family back their son, grandson, nephew and father.”
