Skip to content

To be forgiven, you have to forgive

Editor: I couldn’t help but see a notice put up at work. The Salvation Army was starting a program for anyone addicted.

Editor:

I couldn’t help but see a notice put up at work. The Salvation Army was starting a program for anyone addicted. I thought to myself, this is a long time coming. But good things happen always at the right time.

Myself, I was addicted for many years. I came to a point where I was in the hospital. They told me that they would do everything they could for me, but I may be going through the basement.

But one thing was for sure. They said the next time I would not be so lucky.

Luckily enough, my employer saw that I had a problem and strongly advised me that if I wished to stay employed to go into a treatment  program.

After completing 28 days of treatment I enrolled myself in a 12-step program. I was able to stay sober, very successfully.

But there was always that thing, that little voice in the back of my head that says, well, you can drink.

Even though I could quote the steps off by heart and recite page per page, I was not a happy camper. I came to realize that I have a lot of hate and vindictiveness but there was no way to get rid of this one. Sunday, sitting in my kitchen, I said to myself, why am I doing this?

There was a knock on my door from someone asking me if I want ed to go to church. I thought I have nothing to lose, so I took him up on his offer. I will never forget what pastor Dave Blakely talked about that day. It was like God is all forgiving and I realized that I had to forgive other people in order for me to be forgiven, in case he comes into your life and gives you a new one. One that is not filled with hate, the way it is today.

I read the Parsons Pen and I hear it on Sundays. Often I’ve gone head to head with the pastor on programs of recovery.

But the bottom line is God loves you. He made his point by coming here and showing us. He still is here and he’s just a prayer away.

Ken McKellan

Williams Lake