Fifty years ago, after struggling with alcoholism in his twenties, Colly began his journey of sobriety. Early in his recovery, he was encouraged to find God. While he developed a deep belief in God, he struggled to establish a personal relationship with him.
In the 1990s, life’s twists and turns – including business losses, mental health struggles, and depression – led Colly to a pivotal moment. Another man (also in recovery) helped Colly see he was running on ‘Colly power’ and needed ‘God power’ in his life. Colly experienced something of God’s grace and comfort and while his relationship with God didn’t grow, his life turned a corner, his business grew and his mental health was transformed.
In recent years, Colly would have sat with his wife as she streamed the Sunday worship in their home. She encouraged him to try Alpha, even for a couple of weeks. Colly agreed, and during the course he heard the echo of his granddaughter’s voice: “Granda, you’ve almost got God right… you’re just missing Jesus”. This came through a challenge from C.S. Lewis, mentioned at Alpha – if we can accept Jesus as a great moral teacher but not as the Son of God, we have missed the point. Encouraged to look at the evidence, Colly read of Jesus in the gospels and in one prayer time felt the presence of God and the warmth of the Holy Spirit in the sunlight through the window and accepted Jesus as his saviour.
Colly could see that God’s hand had been on his life but recognised that Jesus wouldn’t come into his life uninvited. He takes comfort in the words a friend shared with him: “Those who come to the vineyard late get the same reward.” While celebrating his 80th birthday and 50 years of sobriety were significant milestones, the most important part of Colly’s year was beginning a relationship with Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.