A Simple Moment, A Powerful Reminder
It’s rare that I stop at thrift stores or donation bins. As a tall person, it’s hard to find clothes that fit — and if I’m being honest, a bit of old pride still lingers.
But yesterday, something caught my eye. Sitting on top of a donation bin near where I live was a new Eddie Bauer backpack — clean, sturdy, and practically glowing in the morning sun.
My own backpack was old and worn. The zippers barely worked, the fabric had thinned from years of travel, and the straps carried the weight of more than just belongings — they carried memories. Painful ones.
That old backpack had once held everything I owned during a time when I was homeless. It reminded me of survival, but also of shame, loss, and a past I was ready to leave behind. It had even come from a person in my life who didn’t have the best intentions — a reminder of relationships I’d since outgrown.
So, when I saw that new backpack, I felt a nudge from God:
“It’s time.”
The Gift of Renewal
I gratefully picked up the backpack — my first new one in years. Slowly and carefully, I transferred the contents from the old to the new:
My interview folio and résumés
Notebooks
My pocket AA Big Book
Sunglasses (still the old pair!)
Pens and highlighters
A few pieces of candy
A water bottle
Everything found its new place, neatly organized and easy to find.
Then I slipped the new backpack on my shoulders.
It felt light. It felt comfortable. It felt like a new beginning.
Letting Go of the Old
As I looked back at the old backpack, I hesitated. Maybe I should keep it, just in case. But then I realized: it had served its purpose.
It was time to let it go.
And that’s when God spoke to my heart again — reminding me that when He brings something new into our lives, He doesn’t intend for us to hold onto the old.
God invites us to surrender what’s tattered and worn so He can clothe us with something better — something that fits the new life He’s creating in us.
That’s what recovery feels like. Piece by piece, God replaces what was broken — pride with peace, fear with faith, and regret with redemption.
A Verse Renewed
The Scripture I memorized as a child now carries a deeper, richer meaning in my adult life:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
The old has gone, the new is here.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
At Serenity Street Foundation, I’m learning how true this really is. God not only restores what’s lost — He replaces it with something that fits who we’re becoming in Him.
Sometimes that looks like healing from addiction. Sometimes it’s the courage to start fresh. And sometimes… it’s as simple as a new backpack — a tangible reminder that God provides for our needs, even in small, unexpected ways.
Thankful for God’s Perfect Provision
That backpack wasn’t just a lucky find. It was a gentle whisper from God saying,
“I see you. I know what you need. I’m making things new.”
At Serenity Street Foundation, I’m discovering that God’s provision comes in many forms — through people, opportunities, community, and grace. I’m learning to trust Him more each day, knowing that as I release the past, He fills my hands with purpose, comfort, and hope for what’s next.
And for that, I’m deeply thankful.
About Serenity Street Foundation
Serenity Street Foundation provides safe, faith-based sober living for men in Columbus, Ohio. Through structure, accountability, and spiritual growth, men in recovery rebuild their lives, renew relationships, and rediscover hope in Christ.
32 E. Woodrow Avenue, Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 738-0463
