"They're hopeless"

With my new job starting in a few weeks, I've found myself thinking about it more and more. After getting a small taste of it last week, I realized that this is going to be a good fit for me. That's no surprise really. For reasons I'm still not entirely sure of, I find myself attracted to the population I will soon be working with. I've heard some pretty incredible stories, some very sad stories and have dealt with a few individuals who if we're going to be completely honest are listening to all the groups and are probably wondering when they can go on their next bender. Yet despite that, all of that, it's still what I want to do. A few days ago we had a patient on our unit who had a history of substance abuse. We were all in report talking about users and out of the blue a co-worker began this somewhat of a tirade of how they're all hopeless and the viscous cycle that comes with users and abusers. While yes it is a viscous cycle, having seen firsthand what it does to not only the abuser but the entire family as well, this is not unfamiliar to me. This co worker then asked for no offense to be taken on my part since I'd be joining that same unit. I wasn't offended by any means, if anything a bit taken aback. I have grown to greatly care and respect for this co-worker, and those sort of thought processes bothered me.

I couldn't get that conversation out of my head for the rest of the day, and I drove home in silence, wondering how I feel about what I do for a living. I came to the conclusion that if I thought anyone was hopeless, I couldn't do what I do. Not even effectively or ineffectively, no. Not at all. This co worker went on to say that without intervention from God they wouldn't be able to make it far. While I do agree with that statement, it was just the delivery of it that sort of rubbed me the wrong way. I've been reading the "Big Book" per recommendation of a different co-worker and it emphasizes in one of the Steps to reach God or a Higher Power in a way that they understand. God speaks to us all in different ways; one patient told me their Higher Power is nature. Anyway, as I was continuing to think about this conversation, I was thinking about my future clientele. Some probably will already feel hopeless, like they have no other way out, desperate, willing to do anything and actually mean it. Some won't, this I know. But still. If I walk into work with the mentality that these addicts are just a bunch of lost causes who just need a good Bible-thumping, then I'm not doing my job in the way I ought to, or the way God wants me to. How hypocritical of me it would be to be preaching mantras of "one day at a time" and "you can do it" and "I'm here to help you and I believe in you" if I don't believe that within?

The reason I say this is because nobody is hopeless because there's hope in redemption by God. Despite our flaws and foibles there's ALWAYS hope! That is something I sincerely believe in and am proud to admit that I believe. It's my job to do my best to share the love of Jesus to these individuals as best as I can, but it helps when I actually go into my job and believe that there's a glimmer of...something greater than themselves or myself.