The Basement Blog

“I was a problem child in Birmingham, Alabama. I was in and out of a lot of the schools there. I was just real hyperactive,” Matt said. “By the time I was a senior, I got involved running with some guys that were really strong into selling drugs and doing them. In this area, not only did I do a lot of drugs, I was selling them, too.”

After high school, Matt attended the University of Alabama. And instead of concentrating on his school workload, he continued consuming and selling drugs, mainly cocaine. One day, Matt’s parents came to attend the university football game and to visit him. During the game, Matt had a drug overdose and was rushed to the hospital.

“When my mom and dad came to the school, they were more or less just checking up on me,” he said. “When they saw their son had a drug problem, they were crushed.” Matt’s parents took him out of school, and he went home to live with them in Birmingham after his drug overdose at the University of Alabama.

Matt’s father began giving him random drug tests until the time he failed one. His father, a former alcohol addict, knew where Matt was headed and was forced to make a tough decision. He sat Matt down in the basement of their home and gave him the option to get his life right or be homeless. His parents made the decision to no longer help support his addiction.

“My mom and dad said, ‘Matt we love you. We love you with all our heart, but today, you’ve got to go. We’re not going to tolerate this addiction any longer. We’re tired of it destroying our family and your life,’” he said. “The only option I had was to be homeless. It’s kind of like that prodigal son moment; all my friends had left me at that point. I had nobody. I squandered everything I had been given, and I knew I had to make a decision.” That night, in his basement, Matt’s father led him to the Lord, and he had an encounter with God like never before.

Tags: drug abuse, forgiveness, hope, overdose, purpose