Never Run Out of Chances

Sunday when I walked into church as I went to my 'regular' place I heard my name. When I turned there was Damien! I was so happy to see him. I hugged him HARD! Last I had heard he had relapsed, was on the streets and was really struggling. It was such a joy to see him and know that he was safe. As we talked I noticed his shirt and that he is in the rehab program we had talked about before he relapsed. When I commented about it he nodded and said, "Yeah. You know. We talked about it." I smiled and said, "We talked about it, but I didn't know if you made it." When I sat down I looked up and there was Rainee. She had come by the PARC earlier in the week, and it was so good to hug her neck one more time.

As I sat in church with Damien across the aisle and Rainee in front of me it caused me to reflect on the PARC and the blessings and miracles that God has done. Rainee was at the PARC about 6 years ago. She was very addicted to meth and struggled so much. There were so many times we had to have her to leave because she was high or angry or disruptive. But she kept coming back and we kept believing in her. Rainee has now been sober for several years, manages her own store, has a car and owns her own home. She is beautiful.

Damien has been coming to the PARC for about 3 years, He has been in and out of rehabs, jail and living on and off the streets. But he kept coming and we continued to believe in him. Damien is tall and handsome and a natural leader. He is now a part of Life Challenge, a live-in rehab facility.

In both of these cases we had the rare honor of seeing them through God's eyes. We got to see their hearts and the possibilities. So, no matter what, they never ran out of chances. That is a core principle of the PARC. I was reminded yesterday of the importance of second, third and even 18th chances. There is always hope and redemption. Sunday was a stark reminder to me of the power of the PARC and how honored that I am to get to be a part of what God does here. His love changes everything! Isn't it wonderful that we all get to play a part in God's redemption through the PARC? Thank you for all you do to make a place like this possible. Those who are homeless are seen, loved, believed in and many find their way to redemption and the life they were destined to live.