In his youth, Gordon Postill battled drugs, alcohol and a lack of purpose. He often found himself without direction or confidence. At various points of his life, he found refuge in pool halls, work in a nickel mine after failing university, and comfort in substances that would numb his insecurities. He spent six years in a downward and dangerous spiral before he experienced a calling to the ministry that changed everything.
In this episode of Chatter That Matters, Dr. Postill shares what he discovered about himself in the pool halls of Toronto, how he ended up working in the mines in Sudbury and the transformation that occurred when he casually picked up a Bible and read the first chapter of Revelation. Describing an astonishing calling, he talks about how he got sober, started his Master of Divinity and eventually his Doctor of Ministry before spending decades helping thousands of people.
Dr. Postill reveals how his pain in his youth allowed him to offer a great deal of empathy in his work as a hospice chaplain and comfort those who knew he would listen without judgment. He describes the sense of reciprocity he felt working with hospice patients, sharing that while he gave to so many, they gave far more back to him.
His book Called! A Longshot’s Story recounts his life through challenging times, his career as a minister and his years as a husband caring for his beloved wife Robin, who became afflicted with early-onset Alzheimer’s. His story proves that no matter how tough life is, you still have a shot at it if you believe in yourself and a higher purpose.
Tony Chapman created the Chatter That Matters podcast to counter the storm of negativity and impossibility with true stories of ordinary people who do extraordinary things. He chats with Olympians, Advocates, Celebrities, Leaders, and people who battled what seemed like insurmountable odds.
In doing, listeners hear life lessons that inspire all of us to do more and to be more, to help us get to where we need, want and deserve to go. RBC is the presenting sponsor.
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