The Gift of Freedom to Follow God’s Plan

Clifford Koot loves to run. When he first entered the Eugene Mission’s R3 program, he could be seen, head down and determined, running up and down 1st Avenue in the early morning fog. He would have run beyond 1st Avenue except for one problem: his ankle monitor wouldn’t let him.

Clifford was on probation, and his ankle monitor was a potent and constant reminder of the bonds that had kept him tethered to his past and its consequences. He had been experiencing the results of his bad choices and bad luck for decades and worried the trend would continue, but an encounter with a judge during a recent status hearing altered his hopes for his future.

At the hearing, Clifford began to share about the changes he’d made in his life since entering the R3 program, including the classes and meetings he’d been attending, how he had re-connected with faith in God and how he was diligently applying everything he was learning.

“The judge liked everything I said, and then he did something shocking – he handed me his business card and said, ‘I’m killing your probation,’” Clifford said. The promise came with one condition – Clifford had to call him once a month to arrange a coffee date. “I was crying like a baby.”

Clifford said he comes from a loving family with strong bonds of affection, but the early losses of his best friend and childhood love caused him deep pain that he tried to bury. He attempted to fill the void with drinking and drugs, and that led to trouble and an eventual prison sentence.

 These days, Clifford’s true personality is beginning to shine through. He wakes up early and can’t stop smiling and his goofy side is coming out. He said he doesn’t have to worry about projecting a tough image like he did in prison – he can be himself. Not everyone understands why he’s so joyful when he’s brushing his teeth or doing ordinary tasks around the Mission, but he’s nurturing a new gift that is bringing him hope.

“God has downloaded this map in my heart; I’m on a new path,” Clifford said. “I can’t really explain what it is about this place, but there’s hope here.”