Why you don't give up on an Addict

Addicts are weak, drains on our justice and healthcare systems, and tear families apart - so the narrative goes. We judge them mercilessly until they find their way, recover, and share their gift with the world.

A story of addiction, Jim Dandy, and a trail.

A hardworking mason for 40 years, he couldn't outrun the pain of 17 surgeries that landed him in wheelchair and sitting on the edge of death's bed, Jim was in addiction HELL. A 150 Percocet would last him less than a week and he would drive around town, often drinking beer on the trip to manage the withdrawal effects, trying to find a sympathetic pharmacist for a refill.

Worse, driving to score his next set of pills, he would serious contemplate the ease of driving into an oncoming semi truck. The physical pain, the withdrawal pain, and the spiritual emptiness of his life had created the internal conditions of not wanting to live. His soul was on life support.

After multiple failed attempts at sobriety, Jim Dandy goes for a massage and his therapist makes a stunning statement to him: "I can see addiction in your eyes. I can help you if you want?"

"Please." he pleads.

She proceeds to pray over him and he feels a hot rush over his face that he describes as the Holy Spirit. Since that prayer he has not touched a single drop of alcohol or one pill despite having access to both.

Then Jim Dandy made a declaration and the story begins: "My addiction affected a lot of people, so damn it, my recovery is also going to affect a lot of people."

As he gained his physical strength to walk again as well as his spiritual strength, he began shining his light anywhere he could. He got a job monitoring (once you meet Jim Dandy, you will find it hilarious that he is responsible for "monitoring" anyone) the lunch room at a grade school where his entire daily focus is to bring joy to kids. Irking the "bosses" at school, he has been known to get the entire lunch room singing, pounding the tables, and making some sort of fart jokes. It is undeniable that the children love Jim Dandy and are also experiencing more joy because this ex addict is shining his light.

Then he came to visit me in prison because I am his nephew and he is, and always has been, a loving Uncle. I explained to him that I had purchased 20 acres of land and wanted to build some sort of outdoor fitness place/retreat that could inspire others to use fitness as a way to deal with adversity and find one's place in the world as it had done for me. He said, "well, let me go check it out."

The very next week, Jim Dandy comes floating (he now floats like a butterfly and stings joy into hearts) into the prison visiting room and in no uncertain terms tells me, "Jesse, this land was made by God for us to build a fitness trail for the people."

Hmmm, a trail? I never said anything about a trail, but I was in no position to argue given my incarceration. "Draw me a few workout stations, mail it to me, and I will get started." I went back to my cell, scratched up a few ideas of stations, put it in the regular mail and didn't hear from Jim Dandy for a couple of months. Kinda figured he was either trying to understand what the heck I drew or he really hadn't gotten around to looking into this trail project yet...

...until I talked to my mom and she told me "...Uncle Jimmy is at the land doing all sorts of stuff. Not really sure what, but he is doing something."

"Oh, he said he was going to build a trail."

Another visit from Jim Dandy months into his trail building project. "Jesse, I am having the time of my life building this thing. We building The World's Greatest Fitness Trail and going to put one in every community."

A few weeks later, I received a photo of the archway sign that reads "Selah Trails" in huge 2 foot letters, 12 feet across. It as beautiful and it was also the start of the trail. I then began seeing stations being built, but nothing like anyone else has ever built. He was serious and on a mission.

Four years prior, Jim Dandy was in a wheel chair not wanting to face another day alive and is now one of the most inspired people I know. Everyday, he is infecting others with his positive spirit and by his example of what is possible when a person who is lost finds their way.

An addict must make their own decision to get clean, but the rest of us can do our best to be the light and not the judge so there can be hope and encouragement...without it, we would not have The World's Greatest Fitness Trail and the lives it can inspire.