Martin was born in Roosevelt, Utah nearly 40 years ago. Not long after he was born, his mother died and his father wasn't able to keep him, so he was raised by a series of foster parents and group homes. At the age of 17 he was struck by a drunk driver and maintained serious injuries. To aid in his recovery he was prescribed powerful painkillers. Although helpful, the drugs led to an addiction that would derail the rest of his life.
For the next two decades of Martin's life, he struggled with addictions to alcohol, meth, and other hard drugs. Despite these struggles, he managed to reconnect with his father and develop a strong relationship that lasted until cancer took him in 2005. Around that same time Martin settled down for a while with the woman he loved and together they had a son named Dracon.
Today, Martin lives on the streets, sleeping under a ragged blanket at night. Besides the blanket, he carries only as much as he can fit into a backpack. Despite his few possessions, he is rich in spirit, and quick to tell a joke. With a smile he asks, "What's the difference between LDS and LSD? One sends you on a trip, and the other one on a mission!" He cheerfully chats about his son, and complains about his recent doctor visit. Then as I walk away with my wife and two little boys, he calls after me, "Take good care of my kids!"
I believe we are all standing at the intersection of two roads. Sometimes we make the right turn, and sometimes the left. Other times, the traffic catches us up and carries us far down a road that we never intended to travel. Throughout our journey, I hope we make time to learn about and love our fellow travelers, no matter how many hard roads they've seen. For truly we all could be there on the corner if life had treated us differently.
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