July 2013 Newsletter

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Anonymous Guest Restored

Her identity has been concealed, because she is a working professional in our community. She could be anyone of us, indeed she has assimilated back into society.

She describes herself as having grown up in a middle class family. She graduated from college with a Bachelor’s degree, entered her career field and had been successful in it for a long time. There was a keen sense of independence, living alone as an adult. Yet, depression troubled her; medication helped. There were no bad habits, except indulging in food.

The years went by, and the admirers were few. She never married and had no children. Midlife happened. She was at the height of her career and the pinnacle of vulnerability. A trigger point would happen that would push her over the edge of reason. It was a blind date. There was a rebellious pride, somewhat hidden inside an unsuspecting exterior. She was enticed, yielded to temptation and fell, believing the lie that she could control the evil behaviors that he brought with him.

A previously foreign lifestyle became her own. She said, “I was on a path. One step off the path, another, suddenly I was off in the woods and I did not know the way back. And I gave up. The shame was unbearable.” She lost her job, home, car, retirement – everything. Family was alienated. This is not an unusual story. We can be more susceptible to situations of negative opportunity or schemes of foul play than we may realize.

The Mission’s Samaritan Inn helped to restore this anonymous guest. There was no reason to remain a victim; there was hope for victory. It was not a greater sense of self-sufficiency that she needed; it was that self-reliance that got her into trouble. She needed connection to her Christian community; something she had strayed away from. She needed to know genuine love and to put on spiritual armor. Accountability and fellowship needed to become a part of her life. She needed assurance that such a disaster would not happen again.

She is now in the process of rebuilding her faith, relationships, career, future on a new foundation, the solid Rock of Salvation. She said, “Here was a framework for building stability, not isolating. There was always someone to talk to, looking after each other. It was a time of healing and growth. I had a spiritual reawakening, trusting in the Lord, not stressing about things. I have faith in God to continue on in confidence. Thank you.”