I remember working at a Homeless shelter. I was working on a holistic program that would include helping our client become self sufficient. The trend then was to go for job readiness. It was exciting to see programs start up and classes become formed. I was for training for jobs but it became apparent that this was falling short of self-sufficiency. It was true, you could get ten people to complete training. Then, with the help of sponsoring companies you could get the people jobs. What I found out though over time was that many of those that I followed up on lost their job within six months. Many returning to the streets. Job readiness training was great but it fell short on accomplishing long term goals. The person needed to learn about job retention. Then, if it was really going to stick there would need to be job advancement.

I write about the plight of the homeless because for many in the grips of addiction I have seen a similar situation. We offer people 28 day programs, perhaps a follow-up 10 day training on relapse and then out the door. For the homeless it was more than job readiness it was job retention. I believe for the addicted it is more than sobriety, it is preventing relapse that is the key to longevity.

SOZO is the greek word for healing, wholeness, recovery and salvation. When Jesus used the word He was not talking about short-term solutions but long-term restorations. Christ offers a new life. A new start. But this is the beginning of a wonderful journey. When we start afresh with Christ we are committing ourself to a process of santification.

It is this way with relapse. When we first become sober we are only in the begginning of the journey. We need to correct addictive thinking, addictive feeling, addictive behavior and addictive relationships if we are going to make lasting change. We need to examine ourselves and search for what Terence Gorski calls “hidden warning signs.” As we become aware of our thinking, feelings, behavior and relationships we can begin t make changes that will enable us to live in longterm sobriety. This is what Paul was referring to when he referenced the process of renewing our mind. You can live a life of sobriety. Indeed SOZO is yours. If this is something you want to know more about e-mail today (ron@calvaryop.org) and ask for our phamphet, Relapse No More!