We all have a story...
...mine is one of recovery.
Sober/Clean since 04.03.2021
Faith. Hope. Love.
Several years ago, I looked at my life and found total disarray. Left to my own devices, I’d made a terrible mess. Sure, there were extenuating circumstances, supporting casts, and plenty of excuses, but that seemed to be the easy way out. This ending became a beautiful beginning as I understood my choices were at the root of my misery. Woven into every relationship, every aspect of my life was all the “isms” of addiction. To clear away this wreckage and restore some semblance of sanity, I would have to lean into the experience, strength, and hope of others. This was a tall bill for me, yet God was waiting.
The recovery process is not a one-and-done affair. It did not get better overnight. There wasn’t a happily ever after magically awaiting me. In the fall of 2015, I tried to get serious about change. I plucked what I wanted from the offerings and then, with a skip in my step, went on my way. Global shutdown in 2020 fractured my resolve.
What I took from the program of hope had not been enough. I slid backward. Self-will and bitter determination were not enough to achieve real sobriety. My heart condition had to change. Just like before, sober people and God were waiting.
“Don’t quit before the miracle,” they said. Today I nod in agreement. When surrender finally comes, and this life gets turned over to God, you finally realize you’re in the place you were meant to be all along. The mess, one heartbeat after another, turns into a masterpiece of unbelievable proportions.
And yet, the turbulence of life persists. There is no free pass, no change to hardship. What changes is your willingness to cope and the tools to help you through it. Sober life also comes with a bonus community you never knew you needed. I share life with some of the goofiest recovered people one could imagine. It’s bumpy. It’s chaotic. It’s hilarious. And…it’s home.
So this is where my little writings come in.
I love stories. From sacred spaces where brokenness meets grace, or ordinary lives become extraordinary stories of hope, it’s my passion to explore them all. My journey of recovery and faith, the lessons of redemption shared by others, and the transformative power of new beginnings are just a starting place. Whether I’m crafting imaginative worlds filled with wonder or sharing reflections around the fire ring, I’d like to invite you to journey with me, to share in the experience of belonging, restoration, and wonder.
There’s always room for one more around the fire—one more story worth telling. From the deepest valleys to the farthest stars, pull up a chair. You’re welcome here.
