Keys for Chris

Have you ever been thankful for the keys on your keychain? It may strike you as odd at first but consider the thought for a moment.

Most of us wish we didn’t have as many as we do. But for some, keys are more than cumbersome objects connecting us to our cars, home and work.

Chris is nearing 50 years old. His apartment in North County is not that big. But it’s very nice and comfortable. His furniture is simple.

Chris was homeless for over 20 years.

Originally from Chicago, Chris walked to St. Louis as a younger man. But that’s another story. Suffice it to say, the lack of a family structure and an addiction to alcohol brought him here. For years he worked off and on as a carpenter, ironically, rehabbing homes.

If you’ve ever gone for a bike ride along the trail adjacent to the river downtown, you know that it starts near the landing and takes you as far north as the Old Chain of Rocks bridge. Ever been there? If so, you were very near to Chris’ old address. In fact, you probably drove right past it.

Chris lived in an abandoned building just off the bike path downtown. In the unbearable heat and unyielding cold of St. Louis weather, Chris slept on the floor of one of its rooms. Somehow he still managed to catch the bus to work for years, returning in the evenings, exhausted.

Keep in mind this is a man that would not tolerate you feeling sorry for him. He’s the first to admit he placed himself in that situation. And like most of us when caught in the pattern of habit, stayed that way.

Over time Chris preferred to be alone and adopted a general mistrust of others. His addiction to alcohol eventually made work impossible.

By the grace of God, Chris realized how tired he had become of his way of life. He knew that if he continued he would die.

And so, he reached out.

"I’m clean now and have been for years. I thank God for every day. I thank God for this place. For my television, my kitchen, the fact that I can cook on my own stove, have friends over, even the cable guy. I’m thankful for my bed and that took some getting used to let me tell you. I’m even thankful for the school across the street that they’re building. I can’t wait to hear the kids yellin and screamin at recess. That’ll remind me of my own childhood. I’m thankful for my job, my boss, whose a fair man by the way. And of course I thank God for every single person who ever helped me along the way. And that’s a lot of people. A lot of patient people. I thank God for every one of them. I also thank God that I can give back by being a role model for other guys working their own programs. I’ve been a sponsor for years and I’m proud of that. Giving back is important! But right now I am especially thankful to God for these keys and what they mean to me. These keys are my second chance. For me they are hope. And I plan to hang on to them forever."