God again was gracious. For a large chunk of time, Edward was with a parent who was not only a member of Watermark, but had a prodigal child themselves...their daughter whom they had themselves kicked out of their home.
One thing was certain, it could not go back to the way it was which meant John and I had to do something differently. We met with people from our community group to seek wisdom. We secured the conference room at the YMCA, neutral territory.
We went to people that we trusted in our community group to seek their wise counsel...for me, my spiritual mentor for a time; and for John one of the men in our community group. They told us we needed to set forth ground rules in writing with specific consequences that he could sign and sit down with him in the presence of others to be witnesses. We decided to set it in a neutral place...the conference room at the Y. John and I drew up a contract and an agenda with much thought and scripture and prayer. Edward could bring some of his friends and Holly and Paul came with John and I. It went pretty well. We heard from his friends how Edward really struggled during those few weeks often going without food and not having a home to go to.
He seemed broken. It was painful to see, but when you want so desperately for there to be change and healing, you hope the visit to the pain is necessary but temporary.
