On an August day six years ago Bob Awoke late in the afternoon. He felt like crap as his mouth felt like it was full of cotton, and his hands shook from the burnout and the morning after the night before when he last got high with friends.
He knew they really weren’t his friends. He had the dope, and they came to him to share. He needed them, at least he liked telling himself that he needed them. They appeared decent enough though on occasion he lose his dope. They’d offer to help find it, but when they couldn’t, he just found his dealer and bought some more heroin because it was expected. They were his friends after all.
This day maybe would be different, he thought to himself as he dragged himself off the concrete sidewalk. Was he still in Spokane or back in Seattle? He couldn’t remember and both places in this part of downtown seemed alike in so many ways. The same down and out transients, druggies and gang bangers appeared and disappeared, only to reappear.
Sometimes they came back clean and promised themselves they had changed and were turning a new leaf. That lasted maybe a month at the most, only to see them relapse, then disappear.
Bob wasn’t going to let that happen. He had become sick and tired of being sick and tired every single day. He walked along the sidewalk and for some reason found himself walking inside a church. He didn’t know why. He sat at the nearest pew and looked up at the cross behind the altar.
Bob for some reason felt at peace here. It was quiet inside. The coolness from the overhead fans was in stark contrast to the blazing heat outside from where he came. A bible was set on a shelf behind the pew facing him. He remembered going to Sunday School when he was very young, but then the divorce and the blame and he never went back and never looked back. He had no regrets then.
Now on this day though, as he opened the Holy Bible and read various passages, he came upon Psalms 119 and read, “Psalm 119[a]
א Aleph
1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
3 they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
ב Beth
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.”
Bob continued reading this verse and felt a lightness flow into his heart and for the first time in his young life he prayed. “Lord Jesus accept this sinner into your presence so that I may be clean and pure and live by your decrees just as this person did so long ago in this bible verse I just read. I am accepting you into my heart. Please do the same for me because I need awakening and healing and your love. I don’t want to die and not be in your presence dear Lord. Amen.”
He opened his eyes and saw the preacher smiling down at him. “Are you ready to be baptized my son?”
“Yes, yes I think I am, reverend.”
“Come with me and I will help lead you down the proper path. Do you wish to be clean from drugs and alcohol too?”
“Yes, I am and want to be clean.”
“Then come with me, my son and you will be saved as you have chosen.”
Bob arose and followed the preacher to the altar. He felt alive for the first time in his life.
Jerry Schellhammer 