When I first came to Middleton, I was a crystal meth addict.  I shot it into my veins and smoked it every day for years.  For the first 30 days, I was on 60 Bed.  I was asleep.  I wasn’t eating.  The COs actually had to tell me I had to go to dinner one day.  When I would wake up, I would hear a few people saying, “He is dead, he is never out.”  I started to “wake up” and noticed the AA/NA sign on the back wall.  I attended a meeting, and when I walked in, I will always remember a volunteer saying, “It’s OK, you’re in the right place,” and when she said recovery was a spiritual journey.  At the end of the meeting she handed me the “little book” AA meeting in a packet.  I kept it in my uniform pocket and read daily. The next meeting I was given the “Big Book,” AA/NA Anonymous, which I took and read during the course of two weeks.  I found myself attending different church meetings and attended a Christian Science class.  I felt I had found my place.  I attended several meetings and asked where I could find the “little book” Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which I took and read about 300 pages into after the Christian Science chaplain gave it to me.  Then I realized I had never read the Bible, the “Big Book.”  So I asked the chaplain about a Bible, and she gave me the NIV Holy Bible, which is written and translated into modern day language.  I read the entire Bible and then read the remaining pages of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy.  I am now able to see the most important and utmost healing that I could ever have received which is my soul being saved!  I now feel no desire to do that drug.  And now walking with the Lord.  I thank God for giving me the path which lead to the 2 angels who gave me a light in my journey of darkness.  “The little book and Big Book”. Thank you [two volunteers].  Thank you Jesus.  Thank you God.

Divine Love is my shepherd.  I shall not want.  “Love” maketh me to lie down in green pastures.  “Love” leadeth me beside still waters. “Love” restoreth my soul, “spiritual sense.” “Love” leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name sake.

Yea though I walk through the valley of shadow of death I will fear no evil for “Love” is with me.  “Love’s” rod and staff they comfort me.  “Love” prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. “Love” anointeth my head with oil. My cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.  And I will dwell in the house, the consciousness of “Love” forever.

                       God is love

                                   Amen.

                                                 (Inmate from Essex County Jail)

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