Twelve years ago, Justin, a/k/a Justice died from an overdose of heroin at age 20. When we read in the paper about a young addict dying, we often brush it aside as "just another junkie" who tempted fate once too often. But all of those junkies were living stories and Justin's was a part of my story too.
We met at Teamworks when he was 15. He was smart, but guarded. He had become an addict at age 10 when his uncle gave him his first taste of drugs as a birthday present. Justin would come to the Bible study Matt and I lead there, but would often sit back and just take it in. A turning point in our relationship and in his relationship with the Lord happened when both of our best friends, David and John D., drowned on the same day. I remember sitting with Justin trying to work through how that could happen and how much it hurt. Knowing that John had a strong faith helped me and I was able to share that with Justin.
When his time was done at Teamworks, I remember telling him I loved him. His reply was "yup." I smiled.
After he left Teamworks, Justin struggled with his addiction. He would get better and then relapse. He always kept in touch and would come over to the Straight Ahead discipleship home with me when we had weekly Bible studies. After the studies, I would bring him home and sometimes, we'd sit in my car for hours talking about faith and life. He was a complex and deep young man. One time when I picked him up at his grandmother's house, he handed me a book and asked if I liked Yeats. "The Irish poet? Ya, I guess", I responded, a bit shocked. "You?" I asked. "No. I love Yeats." This from the same kid who could hang out in the worst neighborhood and know everyone on the street.
In the year before he died, Justin and I would meet each week and he would call me each day. A few weeks before his death, Justin found his Bible opened to Psalm 91 and was freaked out as that had been his ex-girlfriend's favorite chapter in the Bible. He asked if I thought it was a sign from God to him. I said that I think that the Lord had been after him for a long time. After that, his faith and his heart were even deeper.
The last time I saw Justin alive was a week before his death as he was waiting to get into a rehab center. As I was leaving, he asked me to buy him cigarettes and I said no. He smiled, gave me a big hug and said, "I love you." He had started doing that each time we met or talked.
Over the last 12 years, on this day and on his birthday, I would call his mother Liz and Deb, as she also knew and loved him. I had left messages for Liz last year, but I didn't hear back from her. Recently, I found out that Liz had passed away last year. With both her and Deb gone, I guess I needed to write this as a memorial to them and the precious young man who was not just a junkie.
"For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone." Psalm 91:11-12
We met at Teamworks when he was 15. He was smart, but guarded. He had become an addict at age 10 when his uncle gave him his first taste of drugs as a birthday present. Justin would come to the Bible study Matt and I lead there, but would often sit back and just take it in. A turning point in our relationship and in his relationship with the Lord happened when both of our best friends, David and John D., drowned on the same day. I remember sitting with Justin trying to work through how that could happen and how much it hurt. Knowing that John had a strong faith helped me and I was able to share that with Justin.
When his time was done at Teamworks, I remember telling him I loved him. His reply was "yup." I smiled.
After he left Teamworks, Justin struggled with his addiction. He would get better and then relapse. He always kept in touch and would come over to the Straight Ahead discipleship home with me when we had weekly Bible studies. After the studies, I would bring him home and sometimes, we'd sit in my car for hours talking about faith and life. He was a complex and deep young man. One time when I picked him up at his grandmother's house, he handed me a book and asked if I liked Yeats. "The Irish poet? Ya, I guess", I responded, a bit shocked. "You?" I asked. "No. I love Yeats." This from the same kid who could hang out in the worst neighborhood and know everyone on the street.
In the year before he died, Justin and I would meet each week and he would call me each day. A few weeks before his death, Justin found his Bible opened to Psalm 91 and was freaked out as that had been his ex-girlfriend's favorite chapter in the Bible. He asked if I thought it was a sign from God to him. I said that I think that the Lord had been after him for a long time. After that, his faith and his heart were even deeper.
The last time I saw Justin alive was a week before his death as he was waiting to get into a rehab center. As I was leaving, he asked me to buy him cigarettes and I said no. He smiled, gave me a big hug and said, "I love you." He had started doing that each time we met or talked.
Over the last 12 years, on this day and on his birthday, I would call his mother Liz and Deb, as she also knew and loved him. I had left messages for Liz last year, but I didn't hear back from her. Recently, I found out that Liz had passed away last year. With both her and Deb gone, I guess I needed to write this as a memorial to them and the precious young man who was not just a junkie.
"For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone." Psalm 91:11-12
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