Qualification
Second Chances
L
ast fall I received a highly distressing sparks my relationship with God to jump up email from the director of the organ- a notch to meet the challenges of a sudden, ization where I work. It stated that a new addition to my reality. new law had recently been passed requiring I should mention why the prospect of getall practicum trainees to be fingerprinted by ting my fingerprints was so alarming. I have January 1 or else they would not be able to lived two lives. Years ago, I was homeless and complete their practicum hours. had been diagnosed with severe mental illI still needed addiness. During that tional hours. If I It seems like God really does time, I tried to reguwasn’t fingerprinted, I late my moods with would not graduate bulimia, exercise, albelieve in the Twelve Steps from my therapeutic cohol, and subdegree program. I felt stances. As a result, and in giving me and many my stomach sink. many of my memoothers a second chance at life. Fortunately, I didn’t ries are missing or dishave an urge to eat adtorted. I broke laws dictively at that moand got caught. ment. Instead of going to the food as I have Thankfully, I received a lot of help from sodone for so many years to fuel my denial of cial services and was able to get off the streets. difficult truths, I called my sponsor. God And then, by the grace of all that is good, I bless this woman, who allows me to use her stumbled into Food Addicts in Recovery as an “emotional airbag” when my personal Anonymous (FA) and started my second resources are depleted and an emotional life. crash seems imminent. Calling my sponsor It is truly remarkable that anyone was willand leaving her a mostly calm message de- ing to sponsor me. I had a really rough time tailing my concerns helped me to feel proac- and was psychotic and suicidal. However, my tive. Calling her was choosing to take the sponsor was a rock of support and consispath of positive actions. Calling my sponsor tency, and as I weighed and measured my connection
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