My ministry (Messed Up Ministries or MuM, for those of you keeping score at home) hosted a rummage sale this past weekend. I called it a MuM-age Sale, because that’s the main thing I do, goofy word mash ups and puns.

A rummage sale is an interesting concept. I remember going to them when I was a kid and being thrilled at the promise that I might find the treasure of all treasures. Maybe a cool book or a board game. I am in my mid-fifties now and I can remember things I got back when I was still single digits old. Essentially it is stuff that someone has said “I have this, but I would rather not have it anymore.” Then the other part of the equation is the person who says “SCORE!” We did very well on our sale. It exceeded my expectations by a long shot. Discarded stuff became valuable again.

That’s how recovery works, people. How many of us have been discarded by friends, co-workers, strangers, or even family? I know that I can count myself in the rubbish bin of all those groups. I’ve probably also been guilty of taking out the trash in the past. But people just like you, dear readers, have picked me up, brushed me off, and counted me as a treasure. People are the most valuable. If you find yourself on the curb somewhere, hang on. Someone just might come along soon and help you to…

–Rise Up!!