Echo Spring 2021 - 28

t one of his low points, Dr. Joshua Talarico ('12,
'14 & '18), 38, was homeless-again.
This time he was living on the boardwalk in
Ocean City, Maryland. His parents, along with Dr. Dave
MacKenzie, pastor of Bridgeway Community Church
in York, Pennsylvania, and family friend for over three
decades, searched for him during a family vacation.
They hadn't heard from Josh in weeks. They found
his car parked haphazardly in a ditch. Eventually, they
found him as a homeless, sandy version of who they
knew was once a flourishing Christian as a teen only to
lose his way for just a bit as an adult. A path that lead
him to working odd jobs, including working in bars,
which " did not help my alcoholism, " he says.
Today, Josh is 12 years sober even though he doesn't
keep track of the number of years well. He is amazed,
himself, that someone who once was making poor
choices related to alcohol, drugs and that lifestyle is
now preaching in a church and counseling addicts on
their own road to recovery.
A turning point for him was when he was
incarcerated.
" I knew things needed to change for some time,
but I'm hard-headed, " he shares. At the age of
25, he spent 45 days in prison and then had
a second 90-day house arrest. During these
times of incarceration, however, he found
himself leading Bible studies, first in jail cells
and then in trailer homes.
" I led Bible studies in cells with people who
couldn't read, " Josh shares. " I was grateful I could
read. They were grateful to have someone read
to them. "
These men would come to Josh. He in turn
influenced them, which turned his thinking from
himself to others, according to his dad, Tom
Talarico.
" It's amazing to see the grace of God reach down
and grab a person's soul to change their way, " Tom
shares. " It took a while but he came home. We always
left our doors open. We never closed him out. It was
hard. He is still our son, and God never gives up.
I'm so proud of him. I feel sad for people who have
lost loved ones with addictions.
28 ECHO
Echo Spring 2021

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