Wheeler Mission's Blog

A young mom in her 20s stood before the group, crying as she told what it was like growing up with an alcoholic mother. She shared the deep loneliness and insecurity she experienced as a child when it was time to go to bed and she would ask where her mom was – her dad could only say “I don’t know if she’s coming home tonight.”

Such is the experience of children of alcoholics.

But I have seen what can happen when the parent makes the decision to work through a recovery program and live a life of sobriety. In this case, the alcoholic mother in this story went through Wheeler’s addiction recovery program and has now been sober for more than two years. As part of the program, clients are urged to reconcile and make amends with family, friends, and co-workers.

This mother and daughter have had several honest conversations, shed many tears together, and worked through different areas where forgiveness needed to take place. They have truly reconciled. Now, they talk on the phone several times a week, and spend time together regularly. Yes, there are still painful memories, but the positive effect of forgiveness has worked deeply in their hearts.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NIV

Rick

Labels: forgiveness

For the past 11 years, Rob Bowman served as Head Cook and Food Service Manager at Wheeler’s Delaware site. From that kitchen, Rob served more than 1,000,000 meals in his tenure.
A little more than 140 days ago, Rob was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma. He fought his battle with this disease with his typical gusto. His love for the Lord, his wife Amy, and his son Ethan shined through even in his most difficult days. On February 24, he stepped into heaven - leaving behind his agonizing condition and into the arms of his Savior. He was 42 years of age.
You could describe Rob in many ways. He was a US Army veteran. He was a photographer, fisherman, and Major League Baseball fan. Rob was a hard worker. He was a man of deep faith. His last 140 days on this earth revealed a deep love and concern for his family and he spoke often with friends to make sure Amy and Ethan would be cared for when he could not care for them himself.
Please join me and Rob’s ‘Wheeler Family’ as we continue to pray for Rob’s wife, son, mom, dad, and siblings. We will miss him dearly.

Rick

Did you make some New Year’s Resolutions seven weeks ago? I did, but I haven’t begun my exercise regimen yet. After all, it’s only been seven weeks!

I heard one of our recent addiction recovery program graduates say “changing your life is tough.” He is right. A little more than two years ago, this young man was lost (his own words) and now he says everything looks new to him. Through some very difficult months, he worked to develop a new way of thinking, and a new way of living that would bring him to a clean and sober lifestyle. Now, everything feels new and tastes new. He is experiencing new life.

His resolution is now to “pay attention to what is happening in his daily life.” It’s not just a New Year’s Resolution, it’s a daily resolution. I am so encouraged with his progress.

And now, I’m back to thinking about my exercise regimen!

Rick

That’s how he describes his years as an addict. He started using drugs in his teens and continued long into his adult years. He tried several programs to get clean, but would never stay long enough to make progress. Drugs had such a strong pull on him that he felt being a user was the only life he would ever know. His family had given up on him. When his wife describes those 25 years, she says simply, “I was done.” Over and over again he chose his drugs over his wife, children, home, or job.

When he stepped into Wheeler Mission, he knew that he “had to stop the craziness.” That was a little more than a year ago. He entered the Hebron Addiction Recovery Program. It was the hardest thing he has ever done, but like he says now, “if it’s easy, it ain’t worth doing. If it’s hard, that means it’s going to be good. Now, for the first time in my life, I know I have a future. The craziness has stopped.” He has reconciled with his family and now enjoys being a husband, father, and grandfather.

God still works miracles in even the hardest of hearts!

Rick

My wife received “one of those phone calls” recently. She learned that someone she grew up with had died. Her friend had been a beauty queen in high school, and was very popular. She came from a loving family and was active in all sorts of pursuits. But something happened to her when she was in her twenties that came to be the story of her life.

She started drinking socially, and as adulthood brought more and more stress, she turned more and more to alcohol to find relief from the burdens of life. She became an alcoholic and while she tried many times to quit – she always returned to her bottle. It took a toll on her body, and by the time she was 60, her liver simply quit working and she passed away.

It’s a sad story for sure. But it also spurs me on to pursue reaching out to those with addictions. They don’t have to be another statistic, like my wife’s friend. Through hard work, they can turn their lives around – there is hope through Jesus Christ.


Rick

He was 15 when he started using drugs. Today, he is 32. He says that in his teen years, he was just looking for a way to have fun. He admits now that his fun times quickly turned to a necessity when his body craved more and more drugs. From this necessity, he moved into what he calls a 17-year living hell of addiction. He completely lost a sense of who he was.

Like many people living on the streets, he felt invisible to others. He had been in contact with some recovery programs in the area, including Wheeler but would never stay long enough to get help. Because he had no place else to go and was tired of living on the streets, he returned to Wheeler. Then one day, while he was in the Day Room at the mission, one of Wheeler’s staff called him by name. Something struck a chord with him. For the first time in a very long time, he heard someone say his name. It made all the difference in the world and it was what started him on a road to recovery. He felt some one cared for him and was willing to help him walk away from drugs.

He entered Wheeler’s Addiction Recovery Program over a year ago and is learning how to live a clean and sober life. He has come to understand that the God who created him never forgot his name.

Rick

I was asked recently to offer the invocation at Mayor Ballard’s State of the City address. I was humbled at the request and thankful that I could offer a prayer in public for the men and women who serve Indianapolis as elected officials.

As Christians, we are urged in Scripture to offer not just prayers for those in authority – but prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving. Have you prayed, interceded or given thanks for our Mayor, Governor, or President lately?

I urge you to read 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and take time today to pray!

Rick