There was a time in my life when I’d reached the proverbial bottom of the barrel and lost all hope. I was miserable, bitterly angry and had developed extremely low self-esteem. The New Orleans police wanted me off the street and in fact were in hot pursuit when I barely escaped to Atlanta in a desperate attempt to elude them.
When I arrived I was all alone, homeless, and penniless. I saw no way out of my deplorable situation, and decided to just go ahead and get it over with and do myself and the world a favor and kill myself. My plan was to shoot up, (inject), a lethal dose of pure heroin known on the street as a “hot shot”. For good measure and insurance, I planned to eat a large quantity, of Quaaludes, (lethal), and down them with a bottle of wine prior to overdosing on the “H”.
The problem was that I didn’t have enough money to buy the drugs that I wanted to use, heck I didn’t even have enough money to even buy a cheap bottle of wine. I considered shooting myself, but had ditched my gun in New Orleans prior to quickly hitch-hiking out of town, and to purchase one on the street would have been a big expense as well.
At this point God intervened in my life and I was involved in a serious car crash with life threatening injuries. While recovering in the hospital I found something that had been eluding me all of my life. I discovered the love and hope of Jesus Christ contained within the covers of a Holy Bible.
You would not be reading this column had that not happened. I would likely be buried next to my brother Jim, who after losing all hope, did commit suicide by shooting himself in the temple with a 9mm Beretta handgun.
Sigh . . . I’ll never get over his death, but maybe it’s a good thing. It put a tremendous burden on my heart for those who similarly have lost all hope too. I spend much of my time these days trying to convince others that no matter how bleak a situation might be, there is real hope in Jesus Christ. One way I do this is through my autobiography, Miracle on Luckie Street which I am now in the process of trying to get permission on a state by state basis to donate it to every prison in the United States. I have been successful in getting it in many states and I receive letters from inmates who have read it most every day. It seems to be working towards my goal of pointing the hopeless towards Jesus Christ rather well; (the premise being if I could change, then anyone can). Below is an example of one of those letters.
Dear Mr. Williamson,
I know that you have probably received hundreds of letters and e-mails thanking you for writing Miracle on Luckie Street, and I may seem to be just another amongst the many, but for me, in this difficult time of my life, your story has been a verification that my dreams can also become reality . . . that no fall is too far for the Redemption from Christ Jesus, and in a sense we all create our own destinies, choice by choice, day after day.
I was born October 9, 1990 in Anniston, Alabama. I made several bad decisions, but in my heart I have a strong desire to serve God and to live for a Higher Purpose. I consider myself to be of a calm spirit; thoughtful, optimistic, and studious. I have a loving supportive Family, and a handsome, healthy, two year old son.
I have seen many things, both good and bad, to be my age. At times, I felt as if I was roaming to and fro, searching for something that could not be found in the direction I was looking. Maybe, just as that car you hit head on stopped the self-destruction of your life at that time, the chains and barbed wire of prison have put an end to mine. I now realize that many of the things I was living for, were the very same things that were destroying me; (strange how a prison cell has enabled me to find clarity, knowledge and purpose). People say “that everything happens for a reason”, but I am one who has sought out what that “Reason” is.
In Romans 8:28, it states that, “all things work together for good to those who love God, and to those who are called according to His purpose”.
I believe your book was allotted to me through Divine means. You proved to me that one can change even against the heavy odds; that the Light can again shine and also, that life’s struggles are continual. Therefore, it is that much more important that we make the correct decisions.
In your book you said: “An opportunity to achieve greatness often eludes those who fail to recognize it or seize it”. This time has been an opportunity for me to develop character, draw closer to God and to plan my future and my career. Your testimony has helped me in all of these aspirations. I also believe that the moment of opportunity is based upon hours of preparation; therefore, I study diligently. I study the Scriptures, History and many books on business, entrepreneurship, the stock market and economics.
One aspect of your life greatly motivated me, and that was your perpetual ability to constantly expand. You expanded your job at the paint factory and later, your trade. You expanded your business, and then your software; but most of all, you expanded yourself – your mind, your character and your spirit.
There was a significant time of my life when I rose to great heights, only to fall to the lowest depths. Because of this I now understand the prominence of persistence.
The first time I saw your beautiful family in the pictures in your autobiography, my eyes filled with tears. Do you ever look back in amazement that you made it?
Mr. Williamson, I want to sincerely thank you for being who you are, for making it, for overcoming, and for telling your story to give Hope to those of us who need it. I thank you for not giving up, for fighting the good fight, and for your honest testimony in Miracle on Luckie Street. Your words are forever in my mind and spirit.
I know, that in spite of your success, life still has its difficulties and things may not be “rainbows and butterflies and blue skies” as many may suppose; but I pray you find rest in the simple thought of knowing that you still reach out to thousands daily with a hand of Love. Many here have read your book and it is steadily passing from cell to cell, leaving behind it a continual Light, in a place that once was encompassed with only darkness.
Your Friend,
I want to thank all of you who have supported my family foundation in this effort to get my book inside the prisons where hopeless people are finding hope. I also want to thank those of you who are working daily in all sorts of ministries offering hope to the hopeless.
A lady came to Honey Lake the other day and as she looked around at its beauty, she asked, “Well Bob, what’s your next project?”
I replied that it was strictly Kingdom business for me from here on out; no more secular businesses for Bob Williamson. I intend to offer hope to as many people as I can all over the world before I die through the Honey Lake Worldwide Ministries. I hope you too will make providing hope to the hopeless your top priority. We do make a difference in people’s lives. If you haven’t found a good way to join in the fun of this good effort, then please join our ministry. We welcome one and all.
Jer. 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.