On September 16th, we were blessed to welcome Dan Silverman to Covered Bridge. From the moment he arrived, Dan fit right in. His ambitious spirit and lively personality have brought a refreshing sense of family and joy to the house. We’re deeply grateful for his presence — and even more so that he’s willing to share his story with us!

I laugh a lot—maybe too much for some people. Every time I do something absentminded, clumsy, or just plain ridiculous, I giggle like a lunatic. On an average day, that can add up to a lot of giggling! I laugh because I’m far too joyful to keep it bottled up inside. I’m alive, free, and looking forward to eternity in the presence of the Lord. That is why I laugh, chuckle, and giggle in joyful gratitude all day long.

It wasn’t always like this. I remember being in the sixth grade when our class was assigned to write a few paragraphs under the title “What it’s like to be me.” My entire essay was only two words: “It hurts.” That’s all I could think of to describe being me—it hurt. I knew fear, darkness, loneliness, and hopelessness. They all hurt. I grew into pain, rage, addiction, violence, asylums, rehabs, hatred, hospitals, torture, and prison. They hurt too.

That life led me to a six-year sentence in a Vermont correctional facility for the sale and possession of cocaine, fentanyl, and amphetamines. I was strung out to the brink of death, and though I wasn’t exactly suicidal, I wasn’t exactly opposed to dying either—because it hurt.

Today I know that God’s unfathomable hand of grace was at work, but at the time I couldn’t have told you why I decided to go to Bible study when the unit officer announced it. There I met Pastor David Piers, who comes into the work camp weekly to share the Word of God. When Pastor told me about the infinite love and protection God gives to His children, I exploded—sure that He had withheld that love and protection from me in my darkest hour.

Week after week, Pastor patiently led me to look at my life from a different perspective. He helped me face the truth of my own guilt, the depravity of my sinfulness before a holy God, and the desperate need I had for a Savior. 

Pastor walked me through repentance to the cross of Christ, where I finally stopped struggling, gave up the anger and shame, and trusted in Jesus as the Lord of my heart; where I learned that He always did love and protect me—even when I’m alone or afraid, from everlasting to everlasting. Even when it hurts.

Today I am no longer a prisoner—not of the state, nor of sin, nor of addiction, nor of the past. I am a child of God and a resident of Covered Bridge. Pastor Dave remains my great mentor and dear friend. So please forgive me if I laugh and giggle my joy a bit too much. But I am sober, I am hopeful, I am loved—and it feels so good!