Ghosts from the past

February 7, 2015              

From time to time I have occasion to go back in my memory and dredge up things of significance. These retro-flashes are generally brought to the front of my brain because of a current event. This was a stereophonic, three dimensional reenactment of the whole melodrama of my excursion into planning and developing a prime corner at 800 North 1000 in Orem. Last week I received a letter from individuals who had recently purchased two buildings at 1027 and 1045 E. 800 N. in Orem. Surprise, surprise, they wanted to change the zoning on these two properties to C – 1 so they could change the use of these properties to “rehabilitation” facilities. Having barely lived through my personal excursion through hell over these, very similar, circumstances, I immediately emailed the letter’s author and shared my support for their notion and said I would be at the meeting.

When I got to the meeting I listened as they laid out their plan. The first thing I learned was that a couple of very important words were omitted in their invitation. The first one was drug and the other was alcohol. Woops! Back up and start over. What they were really trying to do was place a seven foot fence around a chunk of residential property to create a 16 – 20 bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation “detox” center including medical intervention. Some very concerned parents were there to defend their community. Their concerns were extremely valid and heartfelt as they shared their concerns about children passing by the drug rehab facility on an already busy and dangerous sidewalk as they went to school my heart really went out to them in their plight. What just happened here? What could I say, or do, that would calm their fears and give them a little light at the end of this horrific tunnel? I drew way down inside myself and pulled all my thoughts together and gave them – proponents and all – my best shot:

• The changes they are proposing are not in the best interests of that specific grouping of neighbors and will be permanent and will definitely get worse.
• A solution must be achieved that will bless the lives of all who will be impacted by this and other changes in our community. I shared a couple of thoughts on this, but they are irrelevant to this conversation. All such changes impact the families and the community they include in specific ways.
• Orem must not pretend the elephant in the room in the form of drugs, alcohol, homeless, derelicts, robbery, and all the other elements associated with the seven deadly sins does not exist. We must be part of the solution or we will find the community has created a monster.
• The acronym NIMBY – NOT IN MY BACK YARD – declares our natural tendency to protect our own at all costs. Some of us are have current reading assignments in the New Testament. Everything our Savior, Jesus the Christ shared with the world impacts how we will treat others. Paraphrasing, the first and great commandment is to Love God with all your heart, might, mind and strength. The second is like unto it; namely to love your neighbor (yes, even druggies, and others who have different perception of life).

I excused myself from the meeting (much to the relief of the presenters) saying I didn’t feel well and wanted to go home and be with my grandchildren – both true. The resurrection of these experiences made me physically and emotionally ill because I am absolutely positive there are answers that will provide us with opportunities to share with “the least of these” while allowing a wholesome, meaningful experience for all.

May God bless us with the personal revelation and understanding necessary to give us the necessary insights and understanding!

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend