Did you ever stop to think when passing a homeless person on the side of the road, that you were passing a message from God? The man with the golden voice clip left had me in aw for several minutes. It is about a homeless man whose life has been shattered by drugs and alcohol. For over 15 years, Ted Williams has struggled with this problem. Not only has Ted’s life decisions led him to become homeless; it has also disconnected him from his mother and 9 children. Reportedly, Williams did not come from a dysfunctional home. In fact, he served our country for 3 years in the U.S. Army. He also attended voice acting school and upon completion, Williams worked for a local radio station in Ohio.
This story allowed me to recall the question in class, “What does it mean to be a Christian Counselor?” Due to Williams past and because of his promising future, a form of counseling should be incorporated into his new life. In the book of Colossians, throughout chapter 3, Paul talks about the life of the new man. He clearly states how earthly desires should be put to death and greed should not creep into our lives. God has favor over Ted and blessed Him with a second chance. This time around he will either need a coach for motivation, a mechanic to fix his problems, a survival guide to get him there safely, or an optometrist who will help him see life from a different perspective.
Now I am in no position to say whether or not Ted has accepted Christ as his personal savior, however, if he has not, that needs to be his first step. With the new found fame, temptation (the devil) will attack him every time he sees an opportunity. I believe Ted will need an effective counselor (optometrist) so that he may view life from a different and clearer focal point. He may encounter all four, but ultimately Ted must make the decision to use his second chance to bring honor to the One who made it possible. God heard his cry and did not bypass Ted; therefore, Ted should proclaim God mercy through his golden voice.
When I first watched this video I thought of our God who gives second, third, and fourth chances. The Today show captured the reunion of this man and his mother. I was shocked at how this mother responded. I felt there was still anger, resentment, and shame being communicated to this man whose life was given another chance. One of the first things she tells him is, "don't disappoint me!" Are you serious? I couldn't help but wonder how this man's childhood was. Did he grow up trying to measure up to his parents expectations and seemed to fail? Did he get the nurture and affirmation needed to grow up in freedom or bondage? I also was shocked when his mother said, "the sign, that he was holding up... how can you do are family like that?" Tears began to run down my face hearing a mother say things like this after her son is getting another chance to make things right. I realized then that there is so much to this story than alcohol and drugs... There is a little boy desiring the approval of a mother who to this point had not communicated that she is proud of him. My prayer is that the man with the "Golden Voice" can find a counselor who can walk him through the deeper issues that have nothing to do with drugs and alcohol, but with the need to be LOVED, ACCEPTED, AFFIRMED, BLESSED, and ENCOURAGED!
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