Coffee with Colleen

Oct 5, 2023

I am very fond of rituals because they keep me grounded. They center me when the world is feeling a little too chaotic. One of my most important rituals is drinking my coffee in the morning. My favorite coffee is blonde roast french press with a splash of lactose free half & half and a drizzle of maple syrup. I protect my time in the mornings so that I can drink my coffee slowly and thoughtfully. It is one of the truly calm and peaceful times of my day where I connect with the Creator. I invite you to grab your favorite beverage and spend some time connecting with God the Holy Parent this morning.

I love podcasts and storytelling. Recently, I heard a story on This American Life about an unusual hotline. The Never Use Alone hotline takes harm reduction seriously by staying on the line with people who are using drugs. They are able to call the paramedics if the caller overdoses in order to keep them alive.

The opioid epidemic and overdose crisis make my heart hurt. You may have been touched by addiction or know someone who is in recovery. You may have seen someone using in the streets or around town. I am certain you have heard something about this situation on the news.

My invitation to you today is to consider Jesus’ call to love our neighbor through the lens of harm reduction. Have you heard of narcan or naloxone? It is an easy to use nose spray medicine that can prevent death in the case of an overdose. Did you know that if you are a resident of Denver, you can order free naloxone through the public health department? It is also very easy to get at a local pharmacy by simply asking the pharmacist.

You may be asking, why should I carry narcan? Because narcan is simple to use and it helps keeps people alive. Narcan keeps our siblings in Christ alive. I invite you to learn more about faithful harm reduction by exploring the links in this devotional.

In faithful solidarity,

Colleen