George Martin

One Day at a Time.

My name is George Martin, and I’m currently a house manager with Convicted 4 Christ Ministries.

Recovery has been part of my life for a long time.

My brother was in recovery. He had 34 years sober before he passed away. In 2004, I moved in with him, and he gave me one rule: stay clean and sober.

I broke that rule. I drank while I was living with him, and he kicked me out.

It was tough love.

I was homeless for about two years before a police officer took me to a recovery program in North County. I completed the year-long program, got sober, and eventually went to work there. Later, I returned to plumbing, the trade I had known since I was 20 years old.

For a while, life was going well.

I had years of sobriety behind me. I had a sponsor. I was working the steps and going to meetings. I was working as a plumber and even started doing some work for myself.

Then I slipped.

I got back into recovery fairly quickly and eventually had another eight years sober.

Then my brother died.

His death devastated me. I don't blame his death for my relapse, but this time my relapse was bad. I stayed out there for five years.

The thing was, from the outside, I could convince myself I was doing okay. I was still working. I was paying my bills.

But I wasn't doing the things I knew I needed to do.

I wasn't working my steps.

I wasn't going to meetings.

I went on self-will.

Eventually, things got bad enough that my girlfriend, who had stood beside me for many years, told me something had to change. I went to Tennessee to spend time near my mom, whose health was declining.

I thought getting away might help.

It didn't.

I continued drinking. I got a DUI and went to jail. Eventually, I knew I needed to come back to North County and get help again.

I returned to the same recovery program where I had gotten sober years before.

And while I was there, my mom passed away.

I had already learned what could happen when I tried to carry grief on my own. This time, I didn't want to go back out and drink or use.

The program allowed me to stay an extra month so I could grieve.

So I stayed.

People I knew through the program encouraged me to connect with Convicted 4 Christ. I already knew Richard, and then I spoke with Michael.

They referred me to one of C4C's sober living homes in Oceanside.

Looking back, I believe that was God working in my life.

I moved into the home and went through an outpatient recovery program. I stayed with C4C for about nine months, and eventually I was offered an opportunity to become a house manager at another home in Oceanside.

Today, that's what I do.

I also get to serve.

I pick up donations. I help deliver food to people experiencing homelessness. I serve with the shower outreach.

There was a time when I was the one who was homeless and needed help. Today, I get to be there for somebody else.

I'm grateful for where I am. My girlfriend is still with me after everything we've been through, and I'm very thankful for that.

Life still has its ups and downs.

The difference is that today I know I can't do this on self-will.

I go to my meeting every Thursday. I work my steps. I help others. And I see God working in my life when I'm doing the right things.

I don't have to figure out the rest of my life today.

I just continue my sobriety the way I've learned to do it.

One day at a time.