With a loud thud, Jack cascaded down the steep stairs, his body bouncing and twisting as he tumbled. The sharp edges of each step stabbed into him, and he cried out in agony as he landed at the bottom. This was not the first time he had stumbled, but as he lay there, pain coursing through every limb, he knew it had to be the last. This was rock bottom.
For years, his life had been a downward spiral fueled by alcohol, and now, it seemed, he had reached the very bottom of that dark pit. He could smell the lingering stench of alcohol on his breath and clothes—a constant reminder of his destructive habits. The pungent smell of alcohol lingered in the air—a mix of stale beer, sour liquor, and his own sour sweat.
He gazed up at the narrow staircase above him, its walls closing in like condemning prison bars, and realized this was where his path had led him—to a dead end with no way out.
Gingerly, Jack pulled himself up, feeling every bruise and scrape. He limped to the phone, the fog of inebriation lifting just enough for a moment of clarity. He dialed the number he had avoided for so long—Pastor Mark’s.
“Pastor, it’s Jack,” he slurred. “I need help.”
Pastor Mark didn’t hesitate. “I’ll come to you. See you in a few minutes.”
Ten minutes later, Jack opened the door and welcomed Pastor Mark in, his heart heavy with shame. It was a leaden weight, dragging him down and crushing him with each beat. The weight of his mistakes and failures sat heavy in his chest, an unrelenting reminder of his downward spiral.
Pastor Mark greeted him with a warm embrace, and Jack guided him to the living room sofa. The sofa was a tattered and worn piece of furniture, its once vibrant fabric faded and stained. The wooden frame was chipped and scratched, and the cushions were lumpy and misshapen from years of use.
“Jack,” Pastor Mark began, his eyes filled with compassion. “I’ve been praying for you. Tell me what happened.”
Jack took a deep breath, his chest seeming to expand with the weight of every regret. “Before I called you, I took a massive tumble down the stairs,” he indicated the stairs to the left with his thumb, “and I suddenly realized how far I’ve literally fallen. I’ve lost everything to alcohol. My job, my wife, my family’s trust, my self-respect… I don’t know what to do.”
Pastor Mark nodded. “Jack, before we continue, are you aware of the sinfulness of drunkenness? That Ephesians five calls us not to be drunk since it leads to dissipation but to instead be filled with the Holy Spirit?”
“Yes,” he answered with shame. “I know that, and even in my drunken stupors I’ve always known that. I just didn’t care. I supposed I’ve fallen too far from God’s grace as well. My sin is too great.”
Pastor Mark placed a reassuring hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Yes, Jack, you are a great sinner, but Christ is an even greater Savior. Proverbs 28:13 says, ‘He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.’ Likewise, First John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ All have fallen short of the glory of God, yes—even me—but no one ever falls so far from God’s grace that He will not or cannot give it to them.”
Jack’s hand trembled as he furiously wiped away his tears, a glimmer of hope igniting within him like a wildfire in the midst of a drought. He could feel his heart pounding against his chest, desperate for this small spark to grow into a blazing inferno that will consume all of his pain and sorrow.
“What do I need to do, Pastor?” he asked.
“Would you like to receive Confession and Absolution?”
Jack looked up with desperate eyes. “Yes,” he said with a trembling voice.
The pastor’s face was stern, but his eyes were filled with empathy and understanding, his eyebrows arched delicately, knitting together in a soft expression of gentle concern.
“What sins would you like to confess, my son?” he said.
“I’ve been a drunk for so long. And besides my drunkenness, it has led me to neglect my family and my duties at my previous job. Please, have mercy on me.”
“Do you believe that my forgiveness is God’s forgiveness?”
“Yes.”
“Let it be done for you as you believe.” Pastor Mark placed his hand softly on Jack’s head. “In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins,” he started making the sign of the cross, “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
“Thank you, Pastor.” Even through the thick fog of his drunkenness, he knew he was truly forgiven for all he had done. Where the admonitions of others had only hammered against him, the Word of Christ’s forgiveness sliced through the thick haze like butter.
“My pleasure,” Pastor Mark said. “Jack, now that you’ve received the Lord’s forgiveness, there are some practical matters we need to attend to.”
“What’s that?” Jack asked.
“Besides coming to church again so you can continue to receive the Lord’s Word and Sacraments for forgiveness, life, and salvation, I strongly recommend you attend Alcoholics Anonymous. As I’m sure you know, it’s helped countless people find sobriety. And remember, I’ll be here for you every step of the way, especially if you relapse and desire the Lord’s forgiveness again. You can get through this, with the help of God.”
“Okay Pastor,” Jack agreed. “I think I’d like to do that.”
“Great! We unfortunately don’t have our own AA group, but St. Mary’s parish just down the road from our church has a great AA group. I know Father Smith personally; we often get lunch together. I trust him.”
Jack thanked him for the information, and they closed their meeting with a word of prayer, Pastor Mark asking God to give Jack strength, guidance, and healing. Afterwards, he agreed to let Pastor Mark take all the alcohol from his home and throw it away, even his secret stashes.
The following day, Jack nervously entered the small meeting room of the Catholic parish. He was surrounded by a group of strangers, each facing their own battles and struggles with alcohol. The air was thick with tension and vulnerability, but also a sense of understanding and support. As he listened to their raw and unfiltered stories, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. For the first time in a long while, he didn’t feel alone in his struggles. Each heartfelt testimony served as a guiding light, illuminating a path towards recovery and sobriety.
Jack began to attend the meetings regularly, finding solace and strength in the camaraderie and support. He worked through the twelve steps, acknowledging his powerlessness over alcohol and relinquishing control over to God. Each step brought him closer to sobriety, and each day, he felt a little stronger.
Weeks turned into months, and Jack celebrated milestones he never thought possible. He found a job, began rebuilding his relationships, and most importantly, deepened his trust in God the Father Almighty. Pastor Mark kept his promise during Jack’s brief moments of relapse, even receiving the Lord’s Supper despite the relapses, for the blood of Christ tempts no one to sin.
One Sunday, after seven months of sobriety, Jack felt a profound sense of gratitude. The congregation sang the hymn O Love, How Deep:
O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
Beyond all thought and fantasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortals’ sake!
He sent no angel to our race,
Of higher or of lower place,
But wore the robe of human frame,
And to this world Himself He came.
For us the baptized, for us He bore
His holy fast and hungered sore;
For us temptation sharp He knew;
For us the tempter overthrew.
For us He prayed; for us He taught;
For us His daily works He wrought,
By words and signs and actions thus
Still seeking not Himself but us.
For us by wickedness betrayed,
For us, in crown of thorns arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death;
For us He gave His dying breath.
For us He rose from death again;
For us He went on high to reign;
For us He sent His Spirit here
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
All glory to our Lord and God
For love so deep, so high, so broad;
The Trinity whom we adore
Forever and forevermore.
Jack had fallen into the depths of despair, but even then, his fall was not too deep for the love and grace of God.
The Lutheran Column 