Today our program was presented by motivational speaker, Damon West.  Mr. West was introduced by W.L. Pate, in one of his shortest introductions ever!  W.L. stated that he remembered Damon's mother as a cheerleader for Lamar University before she began to raise a family.
 
Damon talk about his wonderful family, the opportunities that he had as a star quarterback for Division I - University of North Texas, the close relationship his dad had with the Dallas Cowboys' Coach Jimmy Johnson, and the most important day of his life ... July 30, 2008. 
 
That was the day when he (Damon), known as the Dallas "Uptown Bandit" for his many burglaries in the wealthy North Dallas neighborhood, was arrested for his crimes. This was more than a wake-up call and he does not refer to it as his arrest, but rather as his rescue! 
 
In a powerful talk about his recovery from his addiction to methamphetamines (speed), Damon recounted
early molestation at the hands of their baby-sitter in Port Arthur, and the resulting impact that had on his life. Damon talked about taking many opportunities from the age of 10, to drink alcohol in an effort to "fill the hole in my soul." 
 
HABITS AND BEHAVIORS ARE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE.
Damon was injured in his 3rd year of college football and never played again. Managing to graduate, he worked in government in Washington, DC, moved into a financial position in NYC, and eventually moved to Dallas with UBS. It was in that position when an associate introduced him to meth.  He reports he was hooked immediately.  Eventually losing his position at UBS, Damon turned to petty crimes to support his addiction. Those thefts escalated to major crimes such as burglary, hence, the nickname "the uptown burglar."
 
"Footprints In The Sand" 
While awaiting trial at the Dallas County Jail, Damon phoned home. In a talk with his mother, she reminded 
him of a powerful prayer, "Footprints In The Sand." It says, "when only one set of footprints was in the sand, it was the time when I {God} was carrying you."   She told him that his time to pay his "debt" to society had come DUE.  She further stated that it was "time to get onto God's back, to survive this journey, to be the man 
God wants you to be."
 
Sentenced to 65 years in prison, an old African-American inmate named Mr. Jackson advised him that it would be very tough to do his time without joining the racial gangs that many inmates join just to survive their incarceration. Mr. Jackson told him that "he didn't have to win every fight that he found himself in, but that he did have to fight all of his fights." 
 
Sentenced to the Mark Stiles Unit, Damon got exposed to a Chaplaincy Program, Kairos, as well as recovery.
Having earned an early release, Damon met his sponsor in a local 12-Step recovery meeting and carries the 
message of hope to all who will listen. 
  
"I have a past, but I don't live there anymore."
 
The COFFEE BEAN
Using an example of a carrot, an egg, and a coffee bean placed in boiling water, the carrot gets mushy, and the egg gets hardened because of the water and heat, but the coffee bean transforms the brutality of the water into coffee.  

 

His message was thought-provoking and admonished the listeners to "be a coffee bean" and change things you encounter and make them better.