In fiction and real life, not every story has a happy ending. Sometimes the hero dies.
“STEPS Stories” are true accounts of real people. Most stories are naturally encouraging and inspiring, but others can break your heart. I know they break mine.
I’ve met many parents who lost a child due to addiction, and I know a dad who lost both of his sons. I went to the funeral of a good friend of my wife. She talked recently with someone who overdosed the next day. My son was a pall bearer for his best friend from high school and has been to the funerals of two other friends as well.
There are many stories involving substances with happy endings. But, tragically, the leading cause of death now for ages 18-to-45 is fentanyl, and more people die from substance-related issues than from vehicle accidents, murder, and suicide.
David was a sharp, 30-something entrepreneur with incredible business potential, but relapses into drug use were getting in the way. Until one last relapse took his life. We had talked about the positive steps he could take: surrender, root causes, coping with temptation, places and people, accountability, and commitment to recovery. But addiction is a deadly disease, and David’s demons—emotional and spiritual—must have finally been too much for him.
Or maybe he just made one last tragic mistake.
Mary committed to recovery and learned life-changing lessons in the process. It took awareness, connection, and education for her to take that step, but it was awesome to see how everything changed: from problems to contentment, shame to self-worth, and being angry at God to feeling blessed by him. Now she knows that addiction is treatable and preventable, and she wants to share that message with others.
Bill chose to prevent drinking from becoming a bigger problem. For years, he had thought, “I’m doing okay at work and home, so that means I don’t have a problem, right?” New understanding changed him: “Wow! I see alcohol was more in control of me than I thought. I’m better now at work and as a husband and dad. My relationship with God has improved, and I feel better every day. Why didn’t I change sooner?”
Leaders of organizations have stories of their own, and an increasing number of them now “get it” about the dangers of addiction and how our ministry can help …
- A nonprofit Executive Director has this to say: “STEPS Ministries has a unique approach to prevent problems by helping people before their lives are impacted.”
- A business executive declares, “STEPS is instrumental in helping people and families in the areas of awareness, education, and connection for addiction.”
- A STEPS board member states, “I know addiction can happen to anyone because I’ve seen it in the lives of my friends and family. Prevention is really where it starts. STEPS does great work. I like the way they are very intentional about education.”
These days, I am thankful for many things. Including the excitement that people feel when they finally realize, “Before, I didn’t know what I didn’t know, but I’ve learned.” And when they see that a better life has been within their grasp all along.
But it’s hard when people die. Some die literally and suddenly. Others figuratively, languishing one-day-at-a-time as potential blessings in their lives are left unrealized.
Because they didn’t know what they didn’t know, or they didn’t take the right steps.
