Last night I took a walk with my father (which is one of my favorite things to do during the summer when I have a day off work), and on our walk we ran into a guy my dad met from teaching at COTC.
This man's name is David Hottinger. He has lived in Newark since 1976, and he has abused substances for around 25 years. A couple years ago, he hit rock bottom, served some jail time, and decided that he needed to make a change. He has turned his life around so much so that now he is working for the Licking County Alcohol Prevention Program. He is soon to graduate from Central Ohio Technical College, where he has the respect of many people. In fact, the dean of academics (I think--or some other bigwig) told him that if he had his master's degree she would turn the entire psychology program to him.
David still has a rather coarse vocabulary (although he is an eloquent writer), he still smokes cigarettes, and I am pretty sure most of Newark (or at least the police department) is still trying to shake off some memories of past behavior.
And yet David works with many others who are living like he used to who refuse to give up the booze or the dope or whatever. They repeat unhealthy behaviors, go through programs more than once, go to jail more than once.
How hard it must be to constantly live in a world where you have Redemption! while the others are left with Redemption?
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1 comment:
i'm so glad to here David has turned his life around. I've know him since we were kids and pray for him on a regular basis. Haven't seen or heard from him in years. thanks for the entry.
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