‘Kristal’ clear

Opinion & Editorial | Published on Wednesday November 7, 2007

    The young woman looked familiar. But, even after making introductions and chatting with her for a few moments, exactly where I knew her from still escaped me.

It wasn’t until several days later that I made the connection.

It was Kristal clear — I knew her when she was Kristal meth.

    Actually, I don’t know what her drug of choice was; she was just one of many kids whose name came across my desk or was bandied about at the sheriff’s office or by members of the drug task force.

So, when I realized my association with her was from another time and another place, I took a real good look at how far she has come.

Some of us go through our entire lives and never really make a mark on the world. Others do; sometimes positive, sometimes negative, but when it’s all said and done their lives have made an impact.

    I personally believe we are all here for a purpose, and that each and every one of us play a part in how our lives are shaped. The decisions we make decide if we are better people, a stronger community, and in return set the stage for future generations.  Doing nothing is not an option.

    Since some opposition has been voiced over the construction of a drug center aimed at helping women get their lives on the right track, I want to express my own feelings.

     As a person who has dealt with many forms of drug addiction with my own friends and family, not to mention this job, I see this as a positive. These women are not lepers. They are not people we can ignore, discard or move to some other location. They are mothers, sisters, daughters and friends who have lost their way.

Life is a journey and unfortunately we don’t all choose the right direction. Sometimes we make missteps out of stupidity and sometimes because of circumstances that have led us there. Roads are meant to be traveled and developed, and more importantly understood.

     When John 3:16 Ministries first opened I was a Doubting Thomas, but I’m proud to admit that I was wrong. I now understand that when people do things for the right reasons, and individuals volunteer time, give money and a lot of prayer is involved then lives can be transformed.

     Every year when the residents of John 3:16 come by the Guard to sing Christmas carols I am so touched by the absolute joy you can see in their faces. The changes in them always reinforces the belief in me that the people I love can change also. It’s as if they have found something that so many of us non-drug and alcohol offenders have yet to discover.

     Like a lot of professing Christians I’ve attended an abundance of churches and found God didn’t show up that day. I sometimes find it ironic that my spirituality and beliefs are reinstated from the very people who strayed the farthest.

     Kristal Reeves was one of them. This young lady has made a commitment to help others and by doing so she’s got a lot of responsibility ahead of her.

     I offer my support to  help her in any way I can and hope that those who have some concerns will see that they also can be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

     At 31, she’s already been to hell and back and a little opposition will not deter what she believes in her heart is direction from a higher power.

     The community where she will be based is being blessed with a wonderful opportunity to help others. Let’s not be Doubting Thomases, but instead approach this with a positive attitude and see if we can help be a difference in transforming lives that will, in effect, help us transform ourselves.

     I, for one would rather live in a “Kristal clear community instead of a “Crystal meth” one.

Good luck Kristal Reeves.

Angelia Roberts is the managing editor of the Batesville Daily Guard. She can be

reached at: 

angeliaroberts@hotmail.com or by calling the Guard office at (870) 793-2383.