I received this letter May 23^rd from a brotherclose to comging home after many years in prison. I know you will be encouragedas I was hearing from a grateful heart touched by the power and grace of God.

Brother, around six or seven years ago the Lord blessed meto find a “Sliver-Lining Recovering Group”, within it I have been [able] tolead men to a different area of thinking. You see brother, in sobriety, many ofus (older recovering addicts) struggle with “self-pity”, and a lot of depressivethoughts. In fact, brother, many of us cry over the fact that we wastedyouthful and productive years when we should have been earning college degreesor maybe perfecting a skill.

Many of us simply do not feel like we could take upsomething “new” because we missed the opportunity to try it when we wereyounger. We are now learning brother that age is mental and really physical.While some folks defeated at the age of twenty-five, others act sprightly andyoung at the age of sixty. Moreover, we can find wonderful examples of peoplewho blossomed out in new activites without any thought or concern about agebarriers. It is never too late for a person to take up a new trade or profession to follow a new scientific or artistic interests or to do anythinghe or she set their hearts upon.

Brother, often in my group I challenge men to follow the “healthierversions” of living. I truly believe that if we are using age as a reason fornot following our heart’s  desire weshould ask ourselves if we are really finding ways to avoid responsibility forour performance in life. We may be seeking excuses to spare ourselves thestruggle and effort that are always required when we do something new orchallenging. Brother, I share everyday with my group that it is never too lateto be the men God intended us to be!

Brother, a lot of issues sprang up in my own heart when Ifirst got sober. Issues left me in a pool of despair and pity during myrecovery and walk with the Lord. God sent men that were blessed to teach, counsel and help me (asking nothing in return except that graciously pass onthe help someone else).

Brother, the first thing that must be understood is that “Christianity”begins and ends in the heart. That is true borther because every action fo aperson can ultimately be traced back to the heart. It also explains why Satan puts such a premium on influencing, clouding, seducing and gaining foothold in people’s hearts.

The heart is primarily the realm of a person’s emotions, feelings, affections, motives and attitudes. Brother, just as our physical hearts pump life-giving blood throughout our entire physiological system, so too the inner heart of a man functions as the nucleus of all that goes on in a person’s life, it is the breeding ground for all of one’s thinking. God said, “For from within, out of the heart of men proceeds the evil thoughts…”.

Brother, in many ways a human being functions very similarly to a computer. The human computer operates with the information that is stored on the hard drive of the “heart”. Brother, the heart could be called the “seat of influence” for a person’s life. The seed bed where ideas are sanctioned, attitudes developed and out which thoughts spring forth.

The heart brother is the essence of man’s being. Another good way brother that I learned to illustrate this is my teachings is to think of the heart as the seat of government and a person as a city. It is within this administration center that the public policy is formed and established. In turn, that policy directs the affairs of what goes on with that community.

Brother, the important position our hearts occupy within us is revealed in scriptures. We are told of a “tender heart”, a “broken and contrite heart”, “a proud heart”, an “unfeeling heart”, a “wise discerning heart”, a “hard” heart”, and a “clean heart”. Brother, folks are told to “rend their hearts”, “seek God with all of their hearts’, and “pour out their hearts before Him”. Brother, from my own situation and case we are told of those “who deceive their own hearts, backslide in heart, spurn reproof in their hearts, and regard wickedness in their heart”. Brother, it is no wonder that we are admonished and advised to “keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”. Brother in concluding this letter, surely it is true, the inward thoughts and the  heart of a man is deep.”