By Ross A.
Twenty-two months ago, on August 27, 2008, I walked into The Family Foundation School miserable, enraged, and spiritually bankrupt. I was a sorry excuse for a boy. I had destroyed my life through addictions to drugs, sex, and alcohol. I threw it away in a demoralizing pursuit of a mere semblance of happiness. I was so miserable; I just couldn’t bare the pain of living. A self destructing shell of a person walked through the front doors past the Saint Joseph statue that day.
On June 26 2010, only a few days from now, I’ll be walking past him again, this time he’ll be saying goodbye to a happy man, a man who has found his purpose in life, a man who’s had his life returned to him. It’s rather uplifting to think about it, as I leave I’ll be waving goodbye to that lifestyle, those feelings, that pain.
A huge chunk of the last nine of my 22 month stay was spent in the spacious, cozy, and hectic abode of room 107, the ‘headquarters’ of The Family Times. I’m glad that I got to work under Chris Stein for this time.
As an editor I got to write a column every month, and had to decide what I really wanted to write about.
At first I was fond of writing advice-type columns, talking about my own program work I was dealing with.
Then, in May, I wrote my first controversial opinion piece.
This is my final column in The Family Times, and the contrast between my emotional state prior to my arrival at FFS, and now, was too overwhelming to not honor here. I don’t feel a need to write some arcane, or eloquent piece, but simply express gratitude for the gifts I have been given.
In honoring this transformation I am obligated to thank The Family School for all the help I have received here. I don’t use the word obligation with disdain, but rather with compassion and gratitude. As a matter of fact, on my last home visit I went on the FFS “truth” website, and was disappointed. I believe that FFS is a great place, although I, as anyone else, have my grievances. Regardless, I am grateful that God rescued me from myself and delivered me here.
The physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual changes I’ve undergone here varied in gravity, speed, and visibility. There were times where my attitudes on life changed quickly. There were times where I saw a moment in time paralleled to one a year prior and was astonished and grateful for the changes that had slowly been happening almost without my knowing. I attribute all of the change to God. Don’t misinterpret this as piety. I avoid being pious at all costs, but I must give credit where credit is due. I owe a big thanks to Him.
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