Get found kid - Get found!

So, a relative sent an email the other day about addictions. The relative shared about a group that is available at our church. The group talks about addictions and gaining a testimony through Jesus Christ to work through these types of things - or at least deal with addictions.

I really enjoy emails like this for a few reasons.

- It makes me realize all of the resources our church has for it's people
- It makes me realize that all of us should be at these types of help groups, but obviously everyone is not ready at the same time to go through the experience
- It gives people permission to feel like they are not alone and would have support to get help
- It shows the importance of sharing trials/challenges in a meaningful way with others
- Many other things I can't think of right now

At the drug and alcohol treatment center I worked in at the Provo Jail, most of the people were there involuntarily. However, once in a while someone would come in that truly wanted to change. Those people were brilliant. They often looked different than the rest of the people because there was a strength and will that the others didn't possess. Those people always inspired me to do a little better, try a little harder, etc. It didn't matter that we didn't have the same addictions or weaknesses because the same principles for overcoming, or living with, were similar.

The 12 step program is amazing and applies to so many areas of life: http://www.12step.org/

Also, when I read the email I thought of many of my family members and friends that are in need. But, most of us don't realize it. I was reminded of a story from the All I need to know I learned in kindergarten book. It was a story of kids playing hide and seek and how one child "hid too well" and the game went on and on and all the kids forgot about the kid hiding and they all went home. The man telling the story said he just wanted to go outside and yell "get found kid, get found!" He further explained that some people he knew suffered in silence through cancer or other illnesses. They decided not to tell anyone and died before anyone knew what really was wrong. Everyone wished that they had been told about the illnesses so they all could have been in it together.

The author suggested that it would be better if we all learned how to play sardines rather than hide and seek. In Sardines you hide with the person you find and at the end of the game everyone is all hidden together in a big jolly group.

It was a powerful little story showing that we are all here to help each other. Today I had another reminder of this when Reeno emailed/wrote on her blog that she had appreciated all of the support she had received after writing about her experiences with PPD at http://rc3w.blogspot.com/.

P.S. I won't mention that the only time I played sardines was at college and I had to go to the health center with a sprained ankle, but hey...at least everyone knew about it and it created friendship and conversation. (-: