Weariness in my soul
In the wee hours of the morning, I conversed with my tenant. He couldn't sleep and had come down to smoke on the deck. I couldn't sleep. I had been smelling the evidence of his crack addiction and praying. In the past couple of weeks, his activities had brought the ending of his tenancy to a head, and we both knew the matter had to be addressed.
We had discussed my observations. At first he denied all. After a week's absence, during which his lies to Ontario Works had come to light, he returned remorseful and promising to make changes. He didn't follow through. Money went missing. My valued CD walkman and my collection of worship tapes that I use to rehearse with have gone missing. His latest strategy has been to keep asking me if he needs to leave, as though he wants me to let him go.
Last night, he asked again. "You want me to leave today?"
"Where will you go?"
"I have no place to go."
"How long would you need to find a place?"
"A week."
"Okay. You've got a week."
It's probably the excuse he needs to spend his next cheque however he wants to instead of on rent. But the stress on the household is not healthy. And as my mentor points out, it does him no good to enable his addiction and dishonesty.
So...another one gone. I'm tempted to say another failure. But maybe something of my input will bear fruit in the long run. Only God knows how his tenure here fits into the overall journey of his life and recovery. I'll continue to pray for him.
I'm sad again today...and the search will be on to fill that vacancy with another journeyer.
We had discussed my observations. At first he denied all. After a week's absence, during which his lies to Ontario Works had come to light, he returned remorseful and promising to make changes. He didn't follow through. Money went missing. My valued CD walkman and my collection of worship tapes that I use to rehearse with have gone missing. His latest strategy has been to keep asking me if he needs to leave, as though he wants me to let him go.
Last night, he asked again. "You want me to leave today?"
"Where will you go?"
"I have no place to go."
"How long would you need to find a place?"
"A week."
"Okay. You've got a week."
It's probably the excuse he needs to spend his next cheque however he wants to instead of on rent. But the stress on the household is not healthy. And as my mentor points out, it does him no good to enable his addiction and dishonesty.
So...another one gone. I'm tempted to say another failure. But maybe something of my input will bear fruit in the long run. Only God knows how his tenure here fits into the overall journey of his life and recovery. I'll continue to pray for him.
I'm sad again today...and the search will be on to fill that vacancy with another journeyer.