LIGHT READING

Guiding Light Focus Points: Vulnerability

Guiding Light’s programming has seven foundational focus points. Each of these seven principles are thoroughly, comprehensively, and holistically explored in our curriculum: Willingness, Honesty, Vulnerability, Self-Awareness, Self-Compassion, Responsibility, and Spiritual Formation. We believe these characteristics give individuals the best opportunity for life-long recovery, and are intended to be internalized in a personal way; how can each individual make then their own, live them out, make decisions based in them?

Adam Gets a Year

On January 18th 2024, Guiding Light celebrated seven former clients who recently reached a year of sobriety – this is Adam’s speech.

Dexter’s Eight Years of Sobriety

Dexter was one of the first names added on our Year of Sobriety wall. After finding success in our recovery program, he moved back home to Mississippi. Recently, on the very anniversary of the milestone that changed his life, Dexter traveled back to Grand Rapids and Guiding Light to receive his coin commemorating eight years of sobriety.

Guiding Light Recovery’s New Gym is Officially Open!

Thank you to all of our partners and generous donors who made the construction of our brand new gymnasium. This is such an excellent space and addition to our 255 Division S. facility, and a sacred space for men to heal their physical being from years of addiction. We could not do this without you. A particularly huge thank you to Wolverine Building Group for providing the funds to build this blessed space. Also thank you to the hard work of all the contractors at Armock, Swanson Electric, D9 Systems/L&W Supply, Standard Lumber, Knight Transfer, Dalstra Roofing, West Michigan Commercial Flooring, and Vork Brother’s Painting. Thank you so much!

“It’s All on Me at the End of the Day”

Tim spent nine years in federal prison, his lawyer had “the magnificent idea” that he enroll in Guiding Light. “I’ve seen that everyone here seems to care.”

They Call it ‘Guiding Light’ for a Reason

When Aaron was finally able to speak, the doctors at the hospital told him they were shocked he was alive — not because of the wreck that totaled his car and fractured six ribs, but because of the amount of alcohol in his body. When Aaron first arrived at Guiding Light, he was still harboring resentments and he thought he would never reconcile with his parents. But he has learned that reconnecting with family requires him to reconnect with himself first. “I’m ready to fix that. Now it’s time to heal and it’s time to make amends.” Though he has always been close to the brother who brought him to Guiding Light, that connection has grown even stronger.

“Please Contact to Arrange for My Proper Burial” | A Family’s Testimony of Recovery

This Thanksgiving we were able to welcome Bob and Emily, a father and sister of former Guiding Light Recovery client Andrew, to speak to clients, friends, and families of Guiding Light. This testimony recalls the powerful story a lost man being brought almost literally from death to life. We are happy to report to that in January 2024 Bob’s son and Emily’s brother (and godfather to her son) will be celebrating his sixth year of sobriety.

SHOW UP For Those That Need Us

One of the most basic responsibilities of any relationship is that we SHOW UP when we are supposed to. Children expect to see Mom or Dad in the audience at the school play. Parents expect their sons and daughters to come home for holidays. Our employers expect us to show up for work. A life of addiction throws these expectations out the window. The result is a lot of emotional pain on all sides. Missed birthdays. Ruined holidays. Family arguments. Lost jobs and broken relationships.