Prodigal Son

It's about 12 30 am on Monday June 28th. I saw pictures of one of my old youth members smoking and drinking and supposedly high on ecstasy. I saw his smile. I saw him surrounded by people. I saw him having a great time. I saw myself in him. not me now but the me from years ago, running around partying it up drunk and high; not caring about anything and anybody. I remember smiling and having good times, feeling like I was doing what I wanted to do and feeling like good times would last forever.

and then it happened... life got tough, problems came, and i realized that my feet were not on solid ground. I tried to avoid it and continued partying it up doing what "I wanted to do." It was then that I began to depend on my vices to keep me smiling. I no longer just wanted them, I needed them, first on the weekends, then just at night time some days and then everyday all the time. I no longer used drugs and alcohol,they used me whenever they wanted to... I was an addict.

Although I remember fun times, raging parties, "good friends," etc. The thing that stands out most vividly for me was being separated from my party crew for a minute, putting my hands to the left and right of the sink, looking into my own bloodshot, glazed-over eyes, and feeling hollow inside. I abhorred the person that I had become and I had no idea how to change it. No matter how great I thought my life was, I couldn't lie to myself, I wanted to end it all...

...and then one day I found Christ!!!!

My since prayer tonight is that the youth member that I saw (and all the other prodigal sons and daughters) would find Christ and His Truth.