For me, the tricky part of this question is in determining how much of what has been accomplished is really due to me, and how much has been accomplished in spite of me.

In 1998, after forty years on the planet, my best efforts and plans had brought me to the lovely condition of just another unemployed homeless drug addict attempting suicide.

A family friend who happened to be a minister found a spot for me in a 12 month rehabilitation facility half way across the country. It actually took me 13 months to complete that program. When I came out, I was a completely different person. I got a job right away, which I kept for the next ten years. I had never kept a job longer than three years during my first forty years. My family took me back, and I began to attend church with them and pay attention to their lives. At that time, I had a son in 5th grade and a daughter in 8th. My daughter just graduated from college and is getting married soon. My son is a Junior in college studying business on a basketball scholarship. My wife and I recently celebrated our 25th anniversery (although we were separated for several of those years).

We have a home. We have food to eat. I haven't used drugs since 1998. Eleven years. It's hard to believe it when I type it out on the page. I get news of the old crowd every now and then. One of my closest former associates was killed initiating a hold up for drug money just six months ago. Why do so many ohers end up dead or in prison while I was given this wonderful second chance?

Let's just call it God's mercy. You have to admit it's rather remarkable.