Paid In Full

The late Mike Yaconelli wrote about a profound experience that changed his life when he made a business deal with an abusive alcoholic.

Yaconelli had a popular ministry to youths and adults, and at one time ran a magazine. He also wrote a number of books on faith. Personally I have appreciated his term “messy spirituality” which he shared to describe the ups and downs of faith and life. Sometimes we are having a mountaintop experience, other days we are in the valley. In fact, these ups can last for months and these downs can last for months.

Yaconelli wrote that many people feel burdened to always be moving forward in their faith, when in reality sometimes we go backwards two steps, thus life and faith can be “messy.”

The profound experience he spoke of was when he and his wife took a young man into their home whose father was a violent alcoholic. For six months the young man lived with Mike and his wife.

Mike then needed some work done on his home. Friends suggested he hire the father of the young man living with him, believing it would be a chance for the man to do something positive.

Mike resisted the idea until his friends finally convinced him to give the man a chance. He made him sign a contract because he didn’t believe he would finish the work and knew he did not trust this man known for his angry outbursts and drinking.

Weeks went by as the father worked on Mike’s house. When he was finished he called Mike and said he needed to discuss the bill. Mike shared he hung up the phone and was very angry and told his wife he knew this would happen, sure the man was preparing to rip him off.

Angrily he waited for the father to arrive, and when he did they sat down in his office. The man handed Mike the bill and said he wanted to thank him for taking care of his son. He went on to say he was a changed man who had been attending AA meetings and was now sober.

Mike opened the bill and shared that he sat there speechless. The man had written on the bill, “Paid In Full.”

Here was a living, breathing testimony of grace, a walking presentation of the gospel message. Mike would share the story often knowing it is by grace by which we are saved, and grace in which we live and move and have our being.