“My Name is ______.
I am a Dopeless Hope Addict.”
© (7-25-03) John L. Stevens
Life seemed to suck.
The pain seemed so real.
The drugs seemed so easy
To change what I did feel.
At first it seemed to help
To cover up the pain.
But the sucking sound I heard
Was my life, down the drain.
The hole I found myself in
Got deeper by the day.
Hope seemed to fade from me
That help was on the way.
The help I sought and found
Was the “friends” who got me here.
Those who had the pot, the meth,
The drugs and the beer.
The family I once had loved,
Seemed distant from me now.
My love had turned to hate
By the love of drugs somehow.
The hole caved in on me
From a distance I could hear.
“We loved her, Oh so very much”
“We failed her. Somehow my Dear.”
They pulled me from the darkest hole
I, myself, had dug.
And took me into their arms
To rescue me from drug.
The days turned into many weeks.
My head began to clear,
To see the ones who really love me.
My hate was not so near.
A cloud of doubt and guilt rained down
For the things I had done.
Soon love returned to fill my heart
Where once the drugs had won.
Forgiveness came from those who loved,
To me, for the many years.
For the pain and sorrow I had caused
To them, through many tears.
A group of families gathered ’round
With love so great for me.
I soon discovered through the tears
Their abundant love was free.
I felt the love of those who care.
I learned to love again.
To care once more for what I’d lost.
To trust and live within.
When temptation comes to my door
To offer me a high.
Let Love instead answer the knock
And with Serenity say - goodbye!
(9-22-04 added 4 lines)
This story has not ended. It will continue for a life time. Life is about decisions we make on a daily basis. It dictates what we will possibly do tomorrow based on what we do today. Life is built on decisions. The end of the story will be written when we meet the One who loves us unconditionally. The One who died on the Cross for us.
(2-22-04)
Love triumphs over adversity when God is in it. “Never give up” must be the words to live by. Progress is made even when there are two steps forward and one step back. Thank God for the progress. Hope lives on in the hearts of those who trust Him.
(2-8-06)
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Wow - you should send this one to the paper or the Walker Center.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Dang! This is great. Everything from the title, to the flow from one extreme to the other. I can see this poem in a frame, on the wall of every treatment and recovery center across the country.
Nicely done!
Jason
TransparentChristianMagazine.Com
June 26th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Thanks Jason. It was written in two hours after the second day of parent patient interactions at a rehab center. There is always hope. Especially when God is doing the directing.
October 24th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Thank you for this wonderful piece. It touched my heart as I have been there and done that. Thank you for sharing it with me.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
John,
I love the title. I love the sentiments. When you need an editor for your first book of poems, look me up, amigo.
Cheers,
Bob
June 23rd, 2010 at 3:04 am
I had a daily encouragement devotional tear-out I saved from an old 365 day calendar a few years ago now that stays taped to the wall in my bedroom which reads, “God’s purpose is greater than your problems”.
After reading this poem written by the most beautiful person I’ve ever known, my own father! What a blessing he is to me! and to so many others through our family’s website I am beginning to learn. I have yet to know his true impact in this life, and just felt like I needed to share a little something that has stayed with me along my path and lit the way in times of strife. I hope someone else can appreciate it now as well. Thanks for the responses and keep them coming! They mean so much.