Purpose (Episode 1)

Purpose (Episode 1)

Curious about how others manage their sobriety journey? This first "Relational Recovery" episode kicks off 2025 with Wes Thompson and Austin Hill sitting down to talk about purpose – what it is, why it matters, and how it shapes recovery from addiction. The conversation roots purpose firmly in a Christian worldview.

Wes shares that their team at Refuge Ministry believes our "most fundamental identity in nature is that we're image bearers of God" and that this belief shapes everything they do in helping men recover from addiction. From this angle, purpose isn't just a nice idea; it's central to understanding why life feels meaningful at all.

You’ll hear Wes admit that "without purpose, life is really really confusing and hard," highlighting how a sense of direction can make even tough seasons feel less chaotic. Austin adds a practical angle, describing purpose as "that thing that's deep... that gives us drive and reason to get up in the morning" and pointing out that it motivates both what we do and what we choose not to do.

There’s also an honest look at the fear of getting purpose "wrong." Austin talks about how people can spend years chasing a purpose that turns out to be unhealthy, yet still learn from that journey. His middle-school dream of becoming a professional baseball player becomes a light-hearted example of how purposes change over time, and how that shift doesn’t make anyone a failure.

This episode is especially relevant if you’re wrestling with addiction or unwanted behaviours and wondering what you’re actually living for. It doesn’t offer slick answers, but it does invite you to start asking the big questions: Why am I here? What truly matters to me? And how might a God-given purpose reshape my recovery story? If those questions are already tapping you on the shoulder, this conversation might be the nudge you need to sit with them a bit longer.