My "Revolutionary Faith"

I just hung up from a phone call with a dear friend of mine.  I haven't spoken to him in awhile and haven't seen him in six months or so.

He just told me that he had been using crystal meth constantly for several weeks, and was suffering from severe paranoia as a result, when he visited MyOutSpirit.com and saw the photo contest slogan, "Remember who you want to be." 

He says that was the trigger that helped him quit using and start getting his life back together.

I was so moved that this project made such a difference in his life that I almost started crying on the phone with him. 

You know, I have been working on MyOutSpirit.com for almost four years, now.  I spent my inheritance from my father on it and still lose money on it every month - it has been ridiculously challenging - but I still feel it is all so worthwhile.

When I wrote SHIRT OF FLAME, I took the name "Ko Imani," which means "revolutionary faith." 

My friend's call reminds me that my faith is justified.

Much love in the New Year to you all.  Thank you for your support.

Comments

[Darren]

These reminders that we are influencing others are also reminders for us to thank those who are influencing us. You can know that you have impacted many more people than you can imagine.

I take this time to say that I keep an eye out here and thank you for your work and hope that you will give someone this same kind of 'tithe' as it occurs to you.

Thank you for helping others to become who they want to be.

Darren

[Riverwolf]

Ko, what a wonderful affirmation of what you're doing. And I'm sure there are many other untold stories just like that one, of men and women who have found your sites and found comfort and support. Thank you.

[Chris M]

I am cautious of sharing the specifics of my own moment of clarity. Something so intimate and powerful is not well served by my shouting from the rooftops. I do well enough to shout in a general way that there is hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless and a solution to an unsolvable problem on my blog or in 12 step meetings. I assume that you have also omitted details of the conversation with your friend for much the same reason. I was struck, though, by the similarity of your friend’s experience to my own; something struck my soul at the perfect moment and kicked me into action. After many years in darkness I suddenly saw light.

Where our moments differ is only this: the image of "what I wanted to be" was profoundly warped. My experience was the realization (the miracle of healing really) that I had been created in the image of my Creator and I was not reflecting that image. Too much of my stubbornness and pride, my resentments, my faithlessness, hopelessness and fear stood in the way of being a reflection of God. My thoughts and actions had placed me too far away to reflect the “sunlight of the Spirit”. I did not suddenly remember what I wanted to be . I suddenly saw God’s image of me and I was compelled to act.

My experience is that God does not make too hard terms with those who earnestly seek Him. All I had to bring to the table was a bit of willingness. That is an experience I wish I could give away. I wish I could give it to the sponsee who called me today after spending last night slamming Dilaudid. I wish I could make him see the Light.

Thank you for the reminder that my search for God can help others.

[Clayton]

Thanks for cross-posting this, Chris. Your blog is great and inspirational! Maybe you should list it as a free resource on MyOutSpirit.com... :)