Holistic Recovery
by Merrily Brast Union Gospel Mission
Rather than outward conformity to a new set of
behaviors, Union
Gospel Mission LIFE Recovery is about
transformation from the inside
out. From building healthy relationships to
dealing with unwanted
thoughts and feelings to finding meaningful
employment, recovery that
lasts addresses the whole-person. The following
men and women want
more than sobriety. They recognize the importance
of addressing
recovery in every area of their lives and plan to
continue doing just
that.
Spiritual: Keith Kautzman: Keith came to
Union Gospel Mission
from jail. He explains, “I knew about God, but I
really didn’t know
what I believed at that point. I guess at that
time, the thing I
worshipped was drugs.”
Not long after coming to UGM, he decided to
follow Jesus. That
relationship was tested when Keith confronted some
hurdles during his
recovery. Trying to obtain his license, he
discovered a warrant for
his arrest. “There was a part of me that just
wanted to say the heck
with it and take off, but I pretty much put that
to rest right away
because that’s what I came [to UGM] for – to quit
running.”
Instead, Keith journeyed through several
months of uncertainty,
but remained faithful to trust God. “I knew I was
innocent, and
between me and God, He knew the truth.”
Ultimately, all charges were
dismissed.
His newfound relationship with God has also
empowered Keith to
face the feelings beneath his addiction and begin
believing the truth
about who he is. “One of the things I struggled
with throughout my
addiction, why I started using, started drinking,
was for acceptance.
I still, even after going through the program, I
still kind of
struggle with that. “I remember one of our classes
was Search for
Significance. In that class, one of the things I
was taught was that
my significance comes in Jesus…I’m totally
accepted.” Increasingly,
Keith’s embracing the reality of Christ’s
unconditional acceptance.
Emotional: Charlie Guthrie: Charlie had
stuffed his anger,
sadness, and feelings of abandonment since he was
a kid. He used drugs
and drank until he became “sick and tired of being
sick and tired” and
came to the Mission.
“It was hard at first because I didn’t trust
hardly anybody.”
Seeing his counselor be open about his own
struggles and healing
encouraged Charlie, over time, to be honest and
vulnerable as well.
“Talking instead of keeping [my feelings] inside
me…that’s the reason
I had been so unhealthy. And now, to open up to a
person and express
how I feel and cry and have a good time and laugh,
that all helps out
a lot.”
Now, when he experiences the emotions he used
to bottle up,
Charlie turns outward. “I pray. Then I get out my
phone and call my
mom, my sister, Mike Sholtz (UGM Counselor), and
my program brothers.
Talking to people and just relying on the Lord.
He’s my Savior, I can
tell Him anything. He’s my strength now, instead
of doing drugs and
alcohol.”
As Charlie moves forward, he’s continuing to
practice openness
within a support group. “It’s still awkward, but I
try to do my best.’
And now, it’s getting easier to open up to people,
and they open up
the same way. It’s been a very big support.”
Social: Amanda Wren: “Coming out of UGM, you
need the support. If
you make the people inside the building your only
support, you are
going to be so lonely when you get out.”
Inspired by words from a UGM staff member,
Amanda Wren made
building a strong support system a top priority.
She said, “Choose
carefully the main people you have in your close
circle because those
people are going to heavily influence the way your
life turns out.”
From her church to her mentor, Amanda has
found healthy, godly
people to surround her and encourage her in
ongoing recovery. She
believes it’s particularly helpful to spend time
with others who are
also recovering, such as her sponsor through
Narcotics Anonymous.
“She’s been in recovery for 14 years. So, she’s a
lot farther along on
her walk than I am. She’s been there, felt that
emotion. There are
things [recovering addicts’] brains go through,
and we really need
that connection and to be able to share our story
so we know someone
else has already walked through it.
“If I’m having a bad day or maybe feeling a
little sad or
overwhelmed, if I don’t have anyone to fall back
on or anyone who can
lift me up and feed me good, healthy, happy
thoughts, I can get stuck
in my own head. It’s very easy to fall into this
downward spiral and
get stuck there. “You can’t go far without a good
support network.”
Vocational: Brenda Corn: Brenda Corn entered
Women’s Recovery at
Anna Ogden Hall in order to deal with her grief
from her only son’s
death and stop using pain pills.
She’s done a great deal of healing, but
re-entering society from
the safe, supportive environment at UGM seemed
daunting. “It’s scary
to think, ohmigosh, I’m not gonna have that
support anymore of the
counselors always being there.”
Her business practicum* placement at the
Gathering Place helped
allay her fears. “Coming here, it was kinda like
the same thing. I’m
grounded. So, I’m grounded at my own church. I’m
grounded at home. I’m
grounded at work.”
She’s also able to encourage others while
serving them. “There are
a lot of people who come through here. There are a
lot of hurting
people. And it gives me a chance to actually put
in to use what I’ve
learned, and it feels good. Not even just talking
about recovery, just
talking with people in general, just being kind
and changing someone’s
day.”
Plus, Brenda says, “I love making coffee,
literally that’s my
passion.” Now, Brenda is working to “open up my
own mobile coffee shop
with my daughters, and get back with my family and
try to become whole
again through the loss. Just try to live again.”
You are invited to celebrate with us! Come
cheer on these men and
women who have achieved so much: UGM LIFE Recovery
|