It's the Journey

The longer I am at the PARC, the more I see how very important and powerful the work of the PARC is. As we stay true to our mission and do not waver on our Core Values, God moves and people are changed. The PARC is unique. There is not another agency that does what we do. We fill a gap and in that we take the journey with them. We accept them as they are and help them get to their next, and their next and their next.

If you follow the PARC on social media you have probably seen several stories about Reggie. Reggie is a shining example of what tells our story. When he first came years ago he was into addiction, he was angry and started fights. He had to be asked to leave over and over. Some days were good and some days not so good, but he kept coming back. He never ran out of chances. 

As Reggie decided to move forward, we walked beside him as he worked with other agencies to get his ID, apply for a job and then get that job. His first job in 32 years! We encouraged him on his first day and every day since then to actually go to work, not give up and to move towards his hopes and dreams. To encourage him, some of our volunteers got him new shoes and a bike to help him get to work. The next day after receiving his bike he came walking in with no bicycle, and we panicked. He then confessed that he couldn't figure out his lock. One of our volunteers went to help him unlock it and spent time to teach him again. Step by step.

I don't think that I have mentioned that Reggie sleeps outside. Will Reggie continue to work? We don't know. It's hard to keep working under his circumstances, but he has dreams and plans. He knows what he wants to do with his first check and then the next steps he will take after that. Will he relapse? Perhaps, but perhaps not. No matter what, we will continue to encourage him and to believe in him. We will continue the journey with him. The WHOLE journey, and that is such a beautiful thing.