MARTIN

prized possession : His cross

 

The circumstances of Martin’s life are complex, he says. Transitioning between stability and despair during the past year, the Denver native found himself unable to pay rent and living in a shelter after being suspended from his job.  Shortly after, he was living outside. Martin found a place to sleep on the Platte river. There he says, “I met two elderly homeless guys who taught me the ropes. How to eat and drink.” However, they also introduced him to more self-destructive behaviors. “Soon I was drinking with them every morning at 6 am. I hadn’t drank in years, and now I was drunk by each afternoon,” he recalls. Still he saw the good in these men and stuck with them. One day however, they were without a bottle, didn’t feel like hustling for money, and  made the decision to go to Jesus Saves, a homeless outreach program. “There we were, three homeless dudes praying at night together. I was starting to see life again and so were they.” He expressed gratitude for this turnaround, and has since found room. Martin has continued to endure pain, with the passing of his mother, just a month before our meeting. While describing the pain of this experience, he acknowledges, “it was her time to go.” 

 

Most Prized Possession: A cross, gifts to him from his mother at the hospital three days before she passed. “It is more meaningful than anything else I own.”