It was a fantastic evening. Four couples sitting around the grill at Benihana's celebrating one guest's ninth year of recovery.
But even more interesting, at least to me, was that each of the men had been in prison for drugs, as had one of the women. Some had been homeless.
The man celebrating the anniversary had spent most of his teenage years hustling on the streets. After his mother died of her addiction he left her funeral on his bicycle and never returned. His father was panhandling for meth in a park when he last saw him a few years back.
Yet, in spite of these histories, those at the table last Sunday night had over 75 years' recovery between them.
All were employed, either in business or else raising children. Two were licensed drug therapists. All lived in the suburbs. A couple of the men were investors and business managers. Two of the couples had small babies.
To anyone passing by they were indistinguishable from any other middle-class group enjoying themselves on a quiet Sunday evening.
So what's the point? The point is, that once addicts and alcoholics get into recovery they can join the mainstream and become part of life. They become contributors to the community and start giving instead of taking.
And they can start living the promises.
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