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Another Way...
by Racqel Kokaram
W
ho would you vote as the
greatest Canadian? Among
the top candidates are Sir Frederick
Banting who discovered insulin,
Alexander Graham Bell who invented
the telephone, and of course the Great
One, Wayne Gretzky.
These individuals have
profoundly impacted
Canadian society. The
truth is, however, that
each person impacts
society either positively
or negatively.
As diplomatic
Canadians it is often
challenging to speak
constructively about
those who threaten the
fabric of our society. Yet
we can no longer ignore the destructive
impact of addiction and the extent
to which it is related to death, crime,
violence, prostitution, homelessness,
child abuse and poverty. Ultimately
addiction threatens our quality of life.
It no longer suffices to push the issues
aside and say: ‘Not in my community.’
‘Lock them up.’ ‘That’s not my problem.’
Is there an alternative, another way?
Let me describe our approach at the
Edmonton Dream Centre. Firstly, we
separate the actions from the net value
and worth of individuals. We address
addiction and its effects as a disease
within a context of love, support and
honor rather than one of judgment, shame
and punishment. By providing quality
care, we become part of the solution.
Secondly, we view each person as
precious and worthy because we are
created in the image of God (Gen 1:28).
God calls us His children and places
tremendous value on us notwithstanding
our actions or past (John 1:12; Rom 8:14;
1 John 3:1). I recently read a powerful
quote that speaks to this reality:
“You were made by hands that held
you before you were placed in your
mother’s womb. You were made by the
voice who whispers, “Let there be light.”
You were made by a father who walks
next to you, before you, three in one.”
(Author unknown, based on Ps 139)
Each person was born with a
purpose. Nelson Mandela, in his
inaugural speech, claims that we were
born to make manifest the glory of God.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons adds that “the
glory of God is man fully alive.” Our
hope at the Edmonton Dream Centre is
that women and children are guided to
recover their intrinsic value, beauty and
worth despite all that has been stolen
and broken - that they would indeed
become fully alive.
Our hope is that women and
children are guided to recover
their intrinsic value, beauty
and worth.
Finally, Jesus presents an even more
radical framework than basic dignity
and respect. We read of story after story
of God’s preferential option for those
who are the undesirables in society- the
weak, poor and outcast (Luke 1:52-53;
Jesus welcomes, loves, forgives and
offers new life to the most insignificant
people. In Christ lives are transformed
to not only become engaged citizens but
agents of change in the world for the
kingdom of God.
RACQEL KOKARAM
Chief Executive Officer
June 2014
Edmonton 15
Dream Centre
Piercing the darkness
the power of music
by Racqel Kokaram
I
n the fall of 1942, Singapore fell to the
Japanese and resulted in a group of
English, Dutch and Australian women
being captured and detained on the island
of Sumatra. This WWII story is recounted
in the motion picture Paradise Road
(1997). In the face of starvation, torture
and utter devastation, the women are
desperate to find hope. They decide to
form an orchestra. Without instruments
they use their voices to make this dream
a reality. They practice in secret and risk
death to sing. Topsy Merritt, one of the
ladies, states: “You want me to give up
food and soap and God knows what else,
so I can starve and sing?” But the choir
gives their spirit a voice. In an act of
tremendous courage, they dare to sing and
stop the Japanese guards in their places.
The transcendent beauty of the music has
an overwhelmingly spiritual impact. The
music pierces the darkness and brings
hope and light.
Music has a way of announcing
good news. Medical experts have long
commented on the physiological and
psychological healing power of music
— it releases in endorphins and begins
to heal to the body. “A Swedish study
published in the journal Integrative
Physiological and Behavioural Science
suggested that [music] not only increases
oxygen levels in the blood but triggers
the release of ‘happy’ hormones such
as oxytocin, which is thought to help
lower stress levels and blood pressure.”1
Music, according to recent research,
has also been linked with the rise of
immunoglobin A, an antibody linked
with immunity.2
Music plays an integral part in our
recovery program at the Dream Centre
as it not only heals the body but also the
soul. The women at the Edmonton Dream
Centre sing in a choir.
Through worship and song they
proclaim that life triumphs over
death, that even in the midst of
much loss, joy is possible.
Whenever we witness the radical
overturn of life over death we taste the
hope of the resurrection of Jesus. It is the
affirmation that in Christ, death has lost
its sting and that new life is possible. The
apostle Paul writes: “See I am doing a
new thing, the old has passed, the new
has come” (2 Cor 5).
But to limit the power of music to the
musician is missing half of the picture.
Those who witness, who hear, who
appreciate the music are also blessed,
inspired and encouraged. After hearing
our women sing, one man was brought to
tears recounting the event and expressed
that is was such an incredible testimony
of God’s ability to heal and bring life.
The act of singing alone is a witness to
the life-giving power of music and for
the women who also believe the lyrics
as praise to God it is an even greater
encouragement. Likewise, in the movie
The Shawshank
Redemption (1994),
Andy Dufrense
plays Mozart’s The
Marriage of Figaro
over the loud speaker
even in the face
certain punishment.
Red, the other main
character, comments
that the voices of
the women made
everyone feel free, if
only for a brief time.
Thank you Roanne.
I would like to
thank our volunteer
choir director, Roanne, and her husband,
Jeremy, who have just completed their
volunteer term and have worked to bring
music, healing and life within our walls
and in our churches and communities.
As Victor Hugo says, “Music expresses
that which cannot be put into words and
that which cannot remain silent.”
1 Carlowe, J. (12 Sept 2011) “Health choirs: Let’s
Have Singing On Prescription” The Telegraph.
2Levitin, D.J. et. al. (2013) “The neurochemistry of
music.” Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 17(4), 179-93.
Celebrating Our Partners
CORPORATE
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
CONNECTIONS
REALTORS®
Kate Chegwin School
Edmonton Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast
Two Junior High students from Kate
Chegwin School raised over $500
through a class project to support
the Edmonton Dream Centre.
Community and business leaders, neighbors and friends
joined the Edmonton Dream Centre at the Mayor’s Prayer
Breakfast on April 9, 2014. We had the privilege of hosting
David Dorward, the MLA for Edmonton Gold Bar.
Foundation
Community
Jill Didow of REALTORS® presented
a cheque to Racqel at the annual
Big Give event in March. The gift
was used to support the program
and for the purchase of new
washers and dryers.
You will know
the Truth and the
Truth will set
you free.
by Catherine
I
came to the Edmonton Dream Centre
thoroughly devoid of hope after a
Catherine and her son.
lifetime of addiction struggles. After
being the primary caregiver of my five
year old son since his birth, I made the
have. I have learned so many truths in
painful decision to send him to the Yukon
my time here, including the fact that
to stay with his father for a time so I could
addiction is a biological, psychological
seek treatment. Two years prior, I fled a
and social disease, as well as spiritual. I
mutually destructive marriage, a career,
am different from many people in that I
a home and a reputation in the Yukon
have this disease, and no, often it does
Territory with my 3 year old son, knowing
not seem fair, but now that I have been
that staying would ultimately result in
shown the truth, it is up to me to learn
death. I was entrenched in alcoholism,
how to manage this disease. God wants
an eating disorder and a complete
to heal my brokenness, to shine the light
sense of moral, spiritual and emotional
of His truth into the darkness I fear, not
bankruptcy. I cried out to God hundreds,
to shame me but to heal me! All my life,
thousands of times to set me free. I would
I had this image of a condemning God,
experience breakthroughs and triumphs,
waiting eagerly to crush me for
maintaining abstinence for over a year
any misstep.
and becoming
certainCENTER
that this LOGO
was
EDMONTON
DREAM
- CENTRED
CMYK
Today
I see that true brokenness is
really it - I was free – only to be crushed
not just all the outward symptoms –
into even heavier dependence upon
my eating disorders, alcoholism, drug
that which I loathed, that which was
abuse and destructive relationships - it
threatening my very life. I wanted to be
is deeply rooted in the garden where it
free, released from bondage, never to look
all began. True brokenness is a broken
back, never to stumble again. I wanted
relationship with God. Truth is slowly
to achieve the perfection I’d sought so
breaking down all my broken belief
desperately my whole life, to hold victory
systems. I used to fear truth because my
in my hands and present myself to God,
identity was so deeply buried in lies
whole and worthy of redemption.
and misconceptions that protected my
Of course, that is not how God works.
addiction. The truth is that I can change
I can do nothing in my own strength, for
my ways of thinking! The truth is that
if I could, at what point would I need
life hurts and I’ve made mistakes. The
God? I had become so consumed by my
truth is that my feelings don’t have to
pain and failure that I wanted all the
control me. The truth is that although
symptoms to go away without facing
my past is a mess, I am not a prisoner
the truth behind them. I wanted God to
to it. The truth is I have the choice to
take over my life, with the exception
of the parts I wasn’t ready to surrender.
Somehow I had to hold on to my
Edmonton Dream
rationalizations and justifications for the
Centre Wish List
way my life had turned out, or I would
risk drowning in the shame I carried.
Special Request
The Edmonton Dream Centre helped me
open my eyes.
Brand new or good
Now I know that alcohol or any of the
as new:
other “things” I attached myself to were
Flat Screen TV
not my problem. Chemical dependency
is merely a symptom of the disease I
Refrigerator
DSLR Camera
Brand new iPad (3)
accept or reject the amazing grace God
offers through His Son, Jesus Christ.
The truth can be found every single day
in God’s Word, and if I remain in it, I
remain in Him.
The truth is I am a new creation;
grace is real and working in my life.
The truth is that while God does
not love the things I have done
and been, He loves me because I
am His child.
Today I don’t fear the truth, I relish it
- I need it! With the truth of who I am in
Christ, I can face my flaws and my fears,
knowing that His blood has covered me.
Every single day His mercies are new and
I am being gently wooed by a loving God
who cares deeply about the details of my
life. Every day I find new gifts, absolute
treasures that He offers me at every turn.
My eyes are open, and I see beauty in
the struggle! I can choose to leave my
will and my life at the foot of the cross
every day; I am no longer defined by
my mistakes. I am learning that the only
way to grow is to step out in faith and
to allow myself to be uncomfortable or
sad without having to alter my mind or
mood in response to my feelings. Every
day I find freedom, and every day I am
a new creation. I am so thankful for the
Edmonton Dream Centre. My son and
I now share our own apartment, and I
am becoming the kind of mother whose
purpose is to live a life that points her son
to Christ. The spiritual growth I witness
even in my five year old son every single
day blows me away! I do not have a single
doubt that God brought me here, at His
perfect time and in His perfect will. The
truth has set me free and I am so excited
for whatever He has in store for us!
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Mail form to: Edmonton Dream Centre, Box 68169, 162 Bonnie Doon Mall, Edmonton, Alberta T6C 4N6 or Fax 780-429-1090
Dream Centre News
COMING SOON
Milestones Celebrated
Join us as we take a “Leap of Faith” at
13,000 feet. Please consider donating $1.00
for every 100 feet that we will be jumping.
By joining, you will empower and equip
women and their children to find solid
ground in their own leap of faith.
Vanessa – one-year recovery
Ramona – 6-months recovery
For more information contact
[email protected], or check
www.edmontondreamcentre.ca
September is
Recovery Month
Did you know addiction costs the Canadian
system over $46 million dollars annually when
law and health care costs are included? The reality is that
addiction either indirectly or directly impacts each one of us.
At the Edmonton Dream Centre we are committed to helping
fight addiction and to raising awareness about addiction and
recovery in our community. We have witnessed how changes
in the lives of individual women at the Dream Centre lead to a
ripple effect in the health and well-being of their families and
society at large. We ask you to consider partnering with us
and attending events that we will be hosting as part of
Addiction Recovery Month this coming September.
EDMONTON DREAM CENTER LOGO - LEFT ALIGNED CMYK
Retreat at Camp Nakamun
www.edmontondreamcentre.ca
[email protected]
tel: 780-423-5516 fax: 780-429-1090
Box 68169, 162 Bonnie Doon Mall
Edmonton, Alberta T6C 4N6
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Special thank you to Halkier + Dutton Design for the donation of their services for this newsletter
“Leap of Faith”
June 20 2014