The Inspirational Facebook Group No One Wanted to Create (A Mama Kat Writing Prompt)

The Mama Kat's writing prompt I ended up with this week is "What inspired you this week?" It is hard to choose just one thing.

I got to see Nick earn his completion certificate from the Tallahassee Teen Challenge Men's Program. He shared his testimony in this post about Teen Challenge's Car Care Program. I met his wife, his sister, and a faith community that has helped him turn his life around.

I read "Highest Duty," a biography by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the USAir pilot who "landed" his disabled plane in the Hudson River after a flock of birds caused both engines to quit. One of the personal effects returned to him once the contents of the plane were delivered to their rightful owners was a fortune cookie fortune he always carried with him: Delay is better than disaster. No kidding.

The ultimate inspiration from the week points out how you don't have to have a lot of years on you to know how to come together and support each other when a community has a loss. Nathan White, who was the band director at my son's middle school, Montford Middle, died suddenly of a heart attack at age 47. I am embarrassed to say that although he and I lived only a mile apart in the same neighborhood and our children went to the same school, we had never met. I had met his wife, Ginger, when I used to be at the bus stop in the mornings. I met his kids at the bus stop. He had always left for work prior to bus stop time since he was a teacher. I still regret that we never connected. I drive past his house every single time I enter or leave our neighborhood.

When he died, I asked to join the Facebook group that his former and current students had created. The main creator is a ninth grader now, and she is a young lady I have known since she was a cute little kindergartner. I have watched her grow into an articulate, empathic young woman who is a stellar big sister to two very young little girls. I watched the kids talk among themselves on Facebook, sharing philosophy:

I think this is just a lesson, to cherish every moment we have with everybody, even if we don't like them that much. Because just like that, they could be gone. - Josh

Helping each other cope:

Be strong, my friends! ♥ Continue your love of music! God will help us through this and NEVER leave our side, so don't doubt Him! :) - Sarah

Trying to grapple with the sheer shock:

Please pray for Mr. White's family and all those that loved him! This was most likely a great shock to them and they need to be comforted! - Elaina

We adults could take some notes from these young people about how to grieve and how to support one another. They didn't presume to know anything at all that would make this better, besides being there for each other and letting one another talk. They were honest, raw, loving, questioning, human.

As far as inspirations go, I think they had a good one, and in turn they served as an inspiration to me.

We will mis [sic] you Mr. White!!! We all loved you very much, and you inspired us.

(From Faith and Julia)

Transforming Lives, One Car at a Time (Car Care Giveaway!)

Transforming Lives, One Car at a Time

Why would a teen club have their kids out on Magnolia Drive on a weekday hawking car washes during lunch hour? I wondered this every time I drove by the Teen Challenge participants standing on Magnolia Drive waving car wash signs. I am never exactly running early to get back to the office, so I would always wonder what the deal was and drive on.

In December, Tenley and I were shopping at Old Navy at the height of the Christmas rush. Although I didn’t embarrass her at Old Navy at Christmas the way I had on Halloween (you got a 20% discount for screaming your best scream and I pulled out all the stops), I was drawn immediately to the blogworthy appeal of the young men singing carols outside of the store. When we were approaching them, she said something like, “just let me get to the car first if you’re going to take pictures.” Fair enough.

I noticed the similarity between the signs held by the singers and the car washers, and I started googling. I deduced that they were both involved with Tallahassee Teen Challenge. I posted the pictures of the carolers to Facebook, connected with the social media I could find, and inquired through the Teen Challenge website to confirm these guys were their guys (they were!).


Once I started talking to representatives of the organization, I learned this: Tallahassee Teen Challenge is a one-year residential Christian discipleship program targeted to intervene in the process of recovery from drug, alcohol and other life controlling problems. It is affiliated with Teen Challenge International. In Tallahassee, the participants are all men (despite the “teen” name); other towns have units of boys, girls, or women. These men have some seriously intense days. Up at 5 for devotional, classes and a meal, out by 8 a.m. to begin working, back in the evening after working all day, dinner and more classwork. In addition to the car care business, Tallahassee Teen Challenge Men’s Program partners with local business owners with a reliable work force that can meet unskilled labor needs.

Here is one participant's story:

I came to Teen Challenge because of a visit to the dentist.



My name is Nicholas Aylor, most of the people I know call me Nick. After my father died from congestive heart failure when I was nine, I toyed with drugs and alcohol as a way to numb my pain. I had been raised in a good home but I began to rebel and get involved with the wrong crowd. As I got older I got in trouble with the law and decided to try and build my life. I stopped using drugs, started a successful business, got married to my beautiful wife and we had a son together.


Then it happened.


I had to visit the dentist to get my wisdom teeth pulled. After the procedure my dentist prescribed painkillers and it all went downhill from there. I became addicted and when my prescription ran out I began searching for other ways to get more pills. My wife fell with me and we began abusing painkillers together.


Late one night, my wife and I lay on our bed in the dark and cried out in despair. We knew that we had become addicted. We wanted to be rid of the bondage that we had so foolishly allowed ourselves to get trapped in. We couldn’t do it on our own and we desperately prayed that God would help us to get free from our addiction.


God answers prayer in many ways. The very next day my two year old son was found in the street. He had wandered out of the house while my wife and I were in the garage and walked right out into the road. The police were called and they found my wife and I passed out on the floor of the garage. We were arrested and I ended up in prison. I was given the option to come to Tallahassee Teen Challenge and my wife went to the Ft. Myers Woman’s Teen Challenge.


This past Christmas for the first time in a year, I got to see my beautiful wife and son. My in-laws have forgiven me and accepted me back in their family- praise the Lord!


I will graduate from Teen Challenge in March, free from drug addiction! I look forward to what God has for my life.


***
 
Tim, Nick, Jonathan, and Shaun came to my office and washed my car for me, under the watchful eye of their supervisor Jonathan. They did a fantastic job and although they thanked me for being a blessing, I really think I was the “blessed” one, not just for the clean car but for having an opportunity to be a tiny part of their journey.

The Tallahassee Teen Challenge program is working hard to publicize its car care services. To help spread the word, they have offered two car wash/vacuum gift certificates ($25 value each) as giveaways on my blog! Just do one thing to enter:

1) Follow Tallahassee Teen Challenge Car Care on Twitter at @ChallngCarCare


or

2) “Like” Tallahassee Teen Challenge on Facebook at Teen Challenge Tallahassee

Please leave me a comment on my blog when you have done this (or if you already are following/liking). Please include your email address in the format [emailname at provider dot com (or org or whatever!)] 

I would also love to hear any stories you have about someone who has made a positive life transformation (maybe that’s you!).

The contest will run through midnight Wednesday night (2/2/11). I will randomly pick two winners from the comments. The gift certificates will be accepted at the Teen Challenge permanent location on Tennessee Street, the Magnolia/Park Location, and the Kerry Forest location (Magnolia and Kerry Forest times/dates are publicized via Twitter). Many customers shop the fresh market at Shannon Lakes and Kerry Forest while their cars are washed (multitasking at its best!!). 


The motto of the Tallahassee Teen Challenge Men’s Center is “Where Life Transformation Happens.” Let’s give them a chance to transform their lives as they transform our cars!

For detailed information on the Tallahassee Teen Challenge Men's Center, visit their website.