Last night I went to an NA meeting. A good friend of mine was celebrating his 4th ``birthday`` which meant he had been clean and sober for 4 years. It was quite an amazing experience to be there.
I`m not sure what I expected when I went there but what I found was inspiring and encouraging.
At one point in the meeting there was opportunity given to people to share their experiences and challenges and people did, openly and candidly. There was recognition of personal shortcomings and also triumphs over the things that have contributed to their brokenness. I think that is what struck me most--these were broken people who were trying to be open about their brokenness. They seemed to understand that when they were together it was a time to try and be as open as possible. It was a matter of life and death.
All through the evening people would say affirming things about my friend. They noted that he was the most caring, loving and compassionate person they knew. They thanked him for setting such a good example and for giving them hope through the life that he lived among them. I could tell they really meant it.
As I sat there, I couldn`t help but realize that Jesus would want to be in places like this. . . .in fact, he was there. At one point my friend had an opportunity to share his heart with the others and he said that it was because of Jesus that these changes had occurred in his life.
Jesus was there.
I think it would be safe to say that the people that attended this meeting might not be the most `polished` that you might find. The hurt, wounds and scarring was pretty evident. But I also couldn`t help but realize that these people, though maybe a little rough around the edges, were nevertheless special and of great value. In many ways they were diamonds in the rough.
Jesus loves in a way that shows us what true love is. When he finds himself with a woman who had lived a promiscuous life he reaches out to her and offers her hope for a new future. In John 8 we see a group of religious leaders wanting to use this woman as a tool to defend their religiosity. But Jesus came to her defense against those who were supposedly living as God`s representatives.
The true God was defending an adulteress who was broken. And He was doing that last night at the NA meeting as well. Jesus was there inviting people into his arms--broken people, hurt people, sinning people. But His love is bigger and stronger than their pain and brokenness.
His love was at work making diamonds.
BT
Ok - I can't figure out how to post a comment except when I hit anonymous -so this anonymous is Wendy K. Your blog message really hit a place of compassion and interest to me. I am glad you got to share this experience with your friend. Even more so - I am encouraged by your friend witnessing to others at NA that these changes happened because of Jesus. AMEN that he had the courage and willingness to do that in a group of people where Jesus can be a "hard sell". AA and NA people are some of the most authentic and genuine people I have ever had the pleasure to meetand be friends with! I believe that those who accept the invitation that Jesus extends to them, can start live anew because He forgives all, heals brokeness and breaks through the bondage of addiction. Yes -His love was at work making diamonds indeed! May those of us who are fortunate enough never to have experienced the bondage of addiction, walk alongside those who have or do because Christ has called us too!
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