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Friday, June 1, 2012

"I Am At My End and Need Help"

Kimberly Parker, the Director of the Central Outreach and Advocacy Center writes a blog each day and ends with a prayer. She writes about stories and situations that occur at the OAC. On Tuesday I spent over three hours with a guest who had come to the end of her road. It was day full of emotion, frustration, anger (at those organizations who say that are "trying to help") and joy. Dealing with this situation showed me how much I have learned but also changed throughout this year of service. Below is the blog that she wrote about the guest I worked with:


May 29, 2012 … “I Am At My End and Need Help”

As I worked the front desk this morning, a lady came to the window and said, “I really need help to get off drugs. I am in a bad situation. I just watched my best friend overdose on drugs and die. In fact we were supposed to commit suicide together. She jumped off of a bridge. I am at my end and need help.”

We were well into adding names to the waiting list when she walked in. I created a space for her and asked Thomas to work with her. They called the Georgia Crisis Line and the guest was told that they could not work with her until she called the police about her friend. The guest did not want to call the police.

Thomas and I talked throughout the morning as he worked with this guest trying to help her find the assistance that she needed. We agreed that it was not our place to judge her situation, to doubt the story she told us. It was our place to try and assist her in getting the help that she needs. Thomas was persistent and called the Crisis Line back and spoke to a supervisor. They said they would send the Crisis Team to our site to evaluate the guest.

They came, evaluated, and transported her for help. Thank goodness!

We hear all kinds of stories each day. There are times when it is right to judge the situation and make decisions accordingly. Today was not a time to judge whether we were hearing the whole story or not. Bottom line for us was to meet the guest where she was today and to try and help her find the best possible help.

God, be with this guest. I know that she will not leave my mind for quite some time and I pray that she is on the road to recovery and healing. Amen.

2 comments:

  1. Thomas, you are in our thoughts and prayers. You are doing the work of the broader community. On my little quiet street in Tallahassee, I shirk and let the agencies and missions do the work that Jesus says we are all to do. Thank you for standing in the gap.
    Stan

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  2. Thomas what a story! It sounds like it was an ordeal. Your persistence and concern for her enabled her to get the help she so desperately needed. I am so glad you were able to do that. Your work this year has been outstanding.
    Love,
    Mom

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