. Dope Series #3 Playmates and Playgrounds The morning sun peeped through the curtains of the old mobile home and hit the satin finish of the 357. Dads old chair somehow lifted to the view of the Ednevyille hardwood and it was game night. For once, I sat in the stands and could see the day that once was. This strung out drug addict could hear the words, and starting at Center is 6 foot 6 inch Steve Boooouuulllllddderrrr Dalton! My now separated wife was leading the cheerleading as I entered the little towns big event. Though my biggest talent was height, great friends were in the stands with Go Boulder ironed upon their winter game shirts. My mind suddenly departed the game night hardwood and came back to the old chair to discover a guy who was skin draped over bones and holes eaten within my stomach from the constant diet of dope and liquor. The mind no longer carrying the title of college prep. The body no longer had the edge of State Champion in baseball or the escort of homecoming. And, there were no longer any cheers or chants of Go Boulder! My world now was the Meth World - Cocaine World - which also dipped into various fingers of most all crime. Yep, in little ole innocent small town Henderson County. I want to pause here for a minute and say some things. I mentioned in #2 that when the poison is removed - big hearts come back alive. My immediate drug network consisted of some (pre-dope and post-dope) good guys that like I, made some really poor choices and today - I love them with all within me. 25 years later, the majority are saved and live great lives - but that road traveled through some mighty deep valleys. I will also say that I have been in deep prayer as God is releasing me to this series. With Gods prompting, I will be entering places that will be touchy and the drug network despises exposure. But, our children are entering a world that they have no clue - so, despite any touchy moments - the promptings will come to light and from Light. My first line of cocaine was offered at a simple get together of sitting around drinking a few beers and came from a buddy who I would have never dreamed did dope. This is usually how the first fall happens. A dope virgin will not journey into the rough parts of town seeking their first poison from a rough looking stranger. It normally comes from a good friend who previously had the same encounter and also took their first fall. Now is when it gets hairy. After the first fall, the snowball has been released down the hill and the line has been crossed into new playmates and new playgrounds. We seek the dope - therefore we seek the supply - the supply is held by new people. Also, we are, deep down, ashamed of our fall and no longer want to be exposed to the ones that initiate conviction. As the angle of the suns reflection upon the 357 changed ... so did the search of how did I get here? The 6th grade boy who once got Class Citizenship Awards for befriending the awkward boy who was being picked on .... now sits in the underbrush of a nearby knoll with a high powered rifle overlooking his buddys safety in a drug deal encounter. This sports lettermans playground had now transformed from Berkley Parks pitching mound to back rooms with razor blades, blocks of meth, and scales. The only ones that I trusted or wanted to be with were the ones that were as messed up as I was. The scary part - I didnt believe that I was messed up or they were. We live in a world that tells us to not judge and to not stereotype or profile. I fully understand the noble intention, but please always remember that Satan very often confuses noble intentions and utilizes it to bring darkness. If you do not step in to your childs life of playgrounds and playmates - they best be mighty strong in their convictions, or they will fall. If we, individually, place ourselves in continuous contact with darkness - we will fall. My Dads chair now held an addict who failed ... in both worlds. Now, even my drug friends did not want anything to do with me because I had tried to quit and had tried to leave - now I was a threat to their high and their enterprise. I had fallen from the life of promise ... to the life of dope ... to the life of addiction .... and I sat in Dads chair ..... and the gun is loaded. More to come ..... Dear Jesus, I pray for our children who stand at lifes crossroads. May they choose the playgrounds and playmates that You have in the vision for their lives. Lord, I pray for the parents - that they are parents who will lead and direct. May we each have the boldness to proclaim - Darkness, you will not have my child! Darkness, you will not have our County! In the name that shined the light upon Dads chair - Jesus!
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 19:52:36 +0000