PASTOR VICKI, AN ALCOHOLIC SUCCESS STORY
🕊️ A Season of Struggle
January’s grey days and the weight they bring
January is a downtime for many people: the post-Christmas slump; Christmas bills: the literal and figurative grey skies currently hanging over our nation; the high level of uncertainty in the world. All these together contribute to feeling down. Maybe, way down. In a time like this, It’s easy to fall into behaviors that lead to addictions of all kinds or to be overwhelmed with anxiety and depression. CRIC’s underlying values of grace, accountability, compassion and healing lead us to deal with those issues.
So we think it’s a good time for a true story of recovery; a story of grace, accountability, compassion and healing. All are values needed for our downtime this January.
🚪A Knock at the Door
How grace and accountability came calling
It was early Saturday morning, and Pastor Vicki decided to get up since she couldn’t sleep. The inner shakes were just beginning. She dressed quickly and began to head downstairs for her stash. Surprisingly, there was a knock at the door.
“Nuts,” she thought, “better not be a salesman, not this early.”
“Good morning, Pastor Vicki,” said the head elder with a big smile. He was flanked by two other elders.
“Oh, boy,” Vicki thought, sucking in some air, “this cannot be good.”
“Do you have a few minutes to visit?” The elder asked, a little too cheerily.
“Sure” she sighed, “come on in.” “Sorry, I uh, I just got up. Not looking too professional,” she offered. The inner shakes were intensifying.
“No problem,” replied the head elder, “we know it’s early.”
🤝 The Power of Compassionate Confrontation
An early morning intervention, guided by care
A counselor had carefully coached the elders. They knew they had to catch their beloved Pastor before she got to her bottle of Vodka. Hence, their early arrival. They were kind and factual. They also offered help in the form of residential treatment. Vicki’s shakes continued to intensify. In the end, she reluctantly accepted. They had already made arrangements to cover her absence.
🌱 Recovery, Restoration, and Return
A shared healing journey, seven years strong
One question remained. “What do we tell the congregation?” Maybe she had surrendered and knew what was best, or she was just too tired to struggle. In any event, she replied, “Tell them the unvarnished truth. I’m in treatment.” In treatment, she surrendered to recovery. That surrender plus her openness with the congregation, enabled them all to heal and serve God together for another 7 years.
🙏 A Story to Inspire
CRIC’s mission to bring hope where it’s needed most
In this true story of recovery, the grace that motivated the values of compassion and accountability brought about healing for many. CRIC’s prayer is that this story may do more than brighten your day a little, in spite of all the greyness that currently surrounds us. Our prayer is that it inspires all of us “to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.”
Just Say “No Thanks”
Compassionate Accountability is the newsletter of The Center for the Restoration of Impaired Clergy. You receive it since you indicated an interest in the Center’s work. To stop it, just say “No Thanks.” The newsletter is assembled by Otto Schultz so address your complaints and questions to OttoBSchultz@outlook.com.