Rising from the Ashes: A Journey of Faith, Recovery, and the Mark of Transformation

When the weight of the world seems unbearable, where do you turn for strength? Carol Maddon found her answer in an unlikely form—a tattoo, a symbol of her profound personal transformation and renewed faith. Embracing vulnerability, Carol recounts the tumultuous days of the mid-1980s that led her to the brink of despair. Through her gripping narrative, she shares with us the moment an unexpected figure, Scott, stepped into her life. His persistent faith despite his own battles with addiction sparked a light in Carol that ignited a journey toward healing and divine connection.

Embark on an intimate exploration of resilience as Carol takes us through her life-altering experiences, from the depths of addiction to the peace she now knows. The conversation unveils the potency of a simple Biblical message found in Micah 6-8, a verse that Carol believes holds the key to resolving humanity's most complex challenges. Her story is a testament to the power of faith, and the peace that comes with surrendering to a higher power. Listeners are invited to discover how embracing resilience and fostering a relationship with God can lead to a most transformative and enriching life.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to Resilient Faith, the podcast.
Opportunities to find deeperresilience within ourselves can
come when life seems mostchallenging.
This podcast is to help youdevelop that resilience and
connection with God.
Being resilient and havingpower starts with faith.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
Hello listeners.
My name is Carol Madden and I'ma long time active member of
Brentwood Presbyterian Churchand I'm honored to spend these
few minutes with you.
This story is about my tattoo.
Now, I know in Christianitythere's some controversy
regarding tattoos.
Some Christians take issue withthem, wanting to uphold the

(01:07):
Hebrew prohibitions found inLeviticus.
However, others, includingmyself, believe that the stated
punishable offenses found inLeviticus including trimming
your beard, mixing fabric andclothing and not standing in the
presence of the elderly I kindof like that one were part of

(01:28):
the Jewish ceremonial laws ofthe time and don't apply in
present day, but neverthelessI'm often asked about it.
So today, on our ResilientFaith podcast, I'd like to share
the story of my tattoo, theabridged version for the sake of
time.
So it was the mid-1980s andafter years of abusing my mind,

(01:53):
body and spirit with destructiveaddictions, I was an absolute
mess physically, mentally,emotionally, let alone
spiritually.
I had obvious signs ofpotentially serious health
problems relating to my excess.
I didn't sleep, I rarely ate.
I started hallucinating andhearing voices, and that scared

(02:15):
me.
There were intense highs andeven more intense lows, and not
much in between.
My family was rightfullyconsidering an intervention.
I knew I had to do something.
I was also pretty sure that Ididn't have the strength to do
it alone.
I considered psychiatry andeven hypnosis to help me cut

(02:38):
back on my addictions.
I didn't really want to quit,not only because I didn't think
I could, but because that wouldmean giving up the lifestyle I
had come to know and separatingmyself from my so-called friends
and co-addicts.
But in perfect timing, an angelappeared in my life.

(02:58):
Let's call him Scott.
Scott was a Christian but, asmost of us know, the flesh is
pretty weak and he had alsobecome sidetracked and snared by
addiction.
All I knew about Scott was thathe was just like me, drug and
alcohol dependent.
But one night, afteroverhearing my feeble cry for

(03:21):
help, scott leaned over andwhispered in my ear, so our
other friends couldn't hear haveyou ever thought about Jesus?
He can help you.
I think I just laughed anddismissed his words.
But Scott didn't give up.
He continued to come over andwhile getting high with me, he
would read to me from his Bibleabout the promises of God.

(03:44):
He told me and at the same timereminded himself that true
peace of mind, heart and spiritcan be found in the divine.
Scott convinced himself firstand stopped getting high with me
, but he didn't stop coming over, he didn't stop sharing the
word with me.
And then one day I actuallystarted listening.

(04:08):
I remember it like it wasyesterday.
Scott said just ask.
I thought about it for weeks,but I was truly afraid.
Afraid that it wouldn't workfor me, but even more afraid
that it might, reluctantly.
One Sunday morning about 4 am,feeling scared and totally

(04:31):
unworthy, I dropped to my kneesand clumsily but desperately
prayed for divine intervention.
I said OK, here I am, I can'tdo this by myself, please help
me.
And I felt it Like a breath ofelectricity come through the top
of my head, slowly through mybody and seemingly into my very

(04:54):
soul.
I felt it.
I knew something had happened,something good, something
miraculous, but I wasn't surejust what it was.
I got back into bed and sleptlike a baby, woke up the next
morning a new person.
I had been changed.

(05:15):
There were a lot of tough timesduring the transition to my new
life, but that would take waytoo much time here.
But suffice it to say that atsome point during that time I
started reading the Bible and Ifound one verse that really
stood out to me so simple, yetso profound.

(05:35):
Honestly, I believe that if wecould all just abide by these
six little words, it couldliterally solve all the world's
problems Poverty, war,discrimination, homelessness,
hunger, greed.
Those words are found in Micah6-8.
Quote he has shown you, all,mortal, what is good and what

(06:00):
does the Lord require of you Toact justly and to love mercy and
to walk humbly with your God".
To act justly to me simply meanstrying to act honorably with
God and other people, and oneway we act honorably with others

(06:20):
is by loving mercy.
And if we love mercy, we'remuch less judgmental.
We have more compassion forothers, all others.
We're more gracious and kind,treating everyone with love and
understanding, regardless ofcharacteristics such as race,
gender, religious affiliation,sexual orientation,

(06:44):
socioeconomic status, becausethose are superseded by love.
And then walk humbly with ourGod, letting God teach us what
is good to treat each otherfairly and with kindness, with

(07:05):
justice and mercy.
Hence my one and only tattooAct justly, love, mercy, walk
humbly.
Scripted conspicuously insideof my right forearm so that I
can be reminded every single day.

(07:26):
There you have it.
Thanks for listening.

Speaker 1 (08:00):
Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast
platform, and thanks forlistening.