Edited by Kathy Medved
Nick had a bumpy start in life. Straight out of high school, he attended the University of California at Irvine for 5 years, starting as a Pre-Med major. However, after a difficult struggle with Calculus and Chemistry, he was put on academic probation. When he added Psychology as a second major, he eventually was able to make the Dean’s List!
Although he experienced pot, coke and psychedelic drugs socially, starting with pot at age 12, alcohol was his drug of choice. Over time it was impossible to get through a day without alcohol. He never did earn his college degree, dropping out to find work. His plan was to save enough money to return to school and finish what he started. While he was able to hold down odd jobs and get promoted, he couldn’t keep the jobs long enough to build his savings for school. At the age of 30, he married, but ten years later, due to his excessive drinking, the marriage began to unravel.
Divorced, out of work, addicted and living on the streets, Nick somehow survived by working day labor jobs. Sometimes he would sleep and eat at homeless shelters, staying the maximum amount of time, trying to quit his addictions, but never being successful.
One day, while staying at Martha's Village & Kitchen for the fourth time, he became depressed over the thought of his unfulfilled dreams. A song came on the radio that said “It’s where you need to be right now. It’s just where I want you to be.” With the help of MVK staff, he had started working on a new plan to quit his addictions to drugs and alcohol and follow the Bridges to Independence program at Martha’s Village. Nick met Sr. Mary Jane and began attending the following on a weekly basis: the Bible sharing group, praying the rosary and attending Catholic Mass, supplementing the Bridges program with the spiritual component he needed. This song was a message from God that He approved.
Now clean and sober for a 1½ years and attending college classes to earn certification in Human Services Alcohol and Drug Studies to become a counselor, he is making long-term plans to go back to the University of Irvine and complete his Bachelor's Degree. He has found a part-time job that will work around his school schedule, has completed relapse prevention classes, joined Alcoholics Anonymous, has reunited with his family and has become a lector at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. He is now an ambassador of Martha's Village & Kitchen, not regretting but appreciating being there.
He says, “God’s power, mercy and love are real. We just have to cooperate.” He likes to think that his life is like a bike ride; we are on a basic tandem bicycle provided by Martha's Village & Kitchen, God is steering the bike and Nick is pedaling. (The bike represents his bed, food, discipline, skills learned, etc.) Nick has to trust that God knows the way even though he can’t see over God’s shoulders. When Nick saves enough money to buy a better, faster, more comfortable bike, he wants to be sure that it is a tandem, that God is always a part of his life.
http://www.onceuponatandem.com/origins.htm
Kathy Medved is on the Charitable Giving Team at Martha's Village & Kitchen
|
