“I’ve never finished anything,” shared Michael. “I’ve spent years battling addictions and hating myself. Before coming to Nashville Rescue Mission, I tried to overdose. I woke up thinking, ‘I can’t even kill myself.’ I decided then something had to change. Better yet, I had to change. I never imagined I would be where I am today.”
Conflict came early in Michael’s life. He was the youngest of eight kids, raised by a single mom who attended the same church for 50 years, while his dad had a love for gambling and a thing for women. Michael grew up much too fast, much too soon. He was 15 when he became a dad and 18 when he joined the Marines—followed by a growing taste for drugs, alcohol, and women.
THE ROAD TO ROCK BOTTOM
Over the next 20 years, Michael’s life was an emotional roller coaster—he was in and out of relationships, had a second son, and was asked to leave the Marines after eight years of service. His drug use and abuse of alcohol escalated. He found himself bouncing back and forth between jail and various drug treatment programs.
“I’ve never finished anything,” shared Michael. “I’ve spent years battling addictions and hating myself. Before coming to Nashville Rescue Mission, I tried to overdose. I woke up thinking, ‘I can’t even kill myself.’ I decided then something had to change. Better yet, I had to change. I never imagined I would be where I am today.”
“Things went from bad to worse when my girlfriend miscarried,” recalled Michael. “Two years later, she was seven months pregnant when she died during childbirth. Our baby, born prematurely, spent months in the hospital, only to die from SIDS at seven months.”
Michael was devastated. He blamed himself. He eventually violated his probation and ended up in prison, losing everything. After his release, Michael tried starting over. But when the relationship he was in fell apart, and he became homeless, he gave up trying.”
STARTING OVER
“When my efforts to overdose failed, I knew I had to do something different,” shared Michael. This mindset led him to Nashville Rescue Mission, where he learned a new way of doing things.
“The Mission’s Life Recovery Program saved my life,” said Michael. “After failing for so long, I felt like I had to make up for my mistakes. Even though I could never live up to those expectations, it didn’t stop me from trying because I didn’t trust God to do it. In the program, I learned how to trust God and not insert my stuff in it. He gave me the strength to keep going, even when things looked bleak.”
NEW BEGINNINGS
Since graduating from the program in 2012, Michael has accomplished many things he never thought possible. He completed his first marathon. After six months of working with a local waste management company, he was promoted to supervisor, and today manages 40 employees.
He is a father to three sons and has three grandchildren.
“I don’t mind looking in the mirror today or telling people who I am or where I came from,” shared Michael.
“Knowing I don’t have to struggle with the same things I dealt with before means there’s no more misery inside me. I can accept myself and my flaws and keep going. I’m happy with who I am today.”
GOING BACK HOME
Michael says he found this peace and confidence at the Mission, where he regularly returns to serve a meal, share an encouraging word, or say hello. “Nashville Rescue Mission is home for me,” said Michael.
“It provided me with a sturdy foundation. I have to come home now and then—to check on my house—to check on my family. It’s easy to forget about things—so I go back to see everyone. Not to revisit the misery, but to instead see the miracle. When you see those miracles of transformation taking place, you know He’s still there.”
