Picking Up the Call: “This Is God’s House” Changed Me ... by Randy Saylors

I had been what Ed Watson was calling an Assistant Director for like 5 or 6 years by that time. I had been attending the Board meetings for a few years and had gotten to know the members pretty well. It was some time in 2002, I remember Ma Bell had just introduced caller ID not long before that, and when the phone rang I saw Ed Watson on the little gizmo that came with that new service.

I did not want to answer that phone call, because I was kinda expecting it, and I really didn’t want to be the Executive Director at the Wheelhouse. Most guys were calling me Mr. Wheelhouse by then, but I was really just trying to keep the peace up until that day. The Director got yelled at a lot. There was some turmoil at the time. Lots of questions. I was the Wheelhouse Darling then, and I was really scared of taking on that position. Ed Watson started the Board after Hub died. He was a guy who got what he was looking for.

I answered though, and Mr. Watson wanted me to come to his house off of 8th St. right away. I believe that I’m still alive today because I got in my truck and went over there.

His wife, Jerry, led me to their back porch, and Mr. Watson was seated there sipping a cup of coffee. Jerry poured me a cup. I sat. I remember that my hands were shaking. It wasn’t Ed Watson that frightened me, him and I had become friends through the Board Meetings. Jerry, too. I had visited their home many times.

It seemed that he understood my trepidation, because what he told me changed my life forever. “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” He suddenly stood then, and shook my hand vigorously. “I know that you will help us.” He smiled, then released my hand, and motioned toward the back gate, for it was time for me to leave. He was like that.

The sign on the wall at the Wheelhouse states, “This Is God’s House.” My first sponsor had passed away about 5 or 6 months prior, and after a period of trials I had come around to asking Don J. to work with me. He would always tell me, “You don’t got to, you get to.” I took that to mean I needed to quit whining and just get busy.

After a time, our schedules weren’t working in unison, so I moved to working more with Walter since I saw him practically every day. Walter has been my sponsor for 22 years or so now. He tells me still today, “If you don’t know what to do, don’t do nothing.”

Over the years, I’ve been asked by Wheelheads and others how I came up with this, or why did I do that or the other thing. I always answer the same way. “I didn’t.” It was a House Manager or a guy that was in the house or someone who had been though the house. It wasn’t me. I’m really not that smart. I just point to the sign on the wall and smile. “This Is Gods House.” That’s the truth.

My job was to keep things calm around there if possible. I counted the money and deposited it in the bank. I went to Staley’s Tax Service on Center St. and got the checks from Don Staley, another Board member. I picked the House Managers and tried to keep them from killing someone. If they took the Wheelhouse truck and ran off to get drunk I went looking for it, (for some reason it was always on Hwy. 3 somewhere - Charles R. used to say that 3 had to do with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost).

I remember talking about a sorta “Circle of Life” between the House Mgr., the AA members who attended the nightly meetings, and the outsiders who just wanted to help in any way they could. It is difficult for a cynical alcoholic like me to fathom the idea that someone without a dog in the hunt would jump in and work so tirelessly to help others. But i have watched with reverence as that very thing has been happening for the last almost 34 years.

Also, I’ve heard tell that Hub Carroll dreamed of a place that would house 50 men. I don’t know if that is true, but I do know that there were a lot of kind folks who took on that vision as their responsibility. What the Wheelhouse became is due to that vision. Their passion is truly contagious.

Back in 2002, I remember that the phone rang 5 times as my hand hovered slightly above. I am blessed today because I picked up. “This Is Gods House.” And My Heavenly Father pays very well.

My first sponsor used to tell me, “If I tell you I love you then I’ll love you forever.”

Y’all Keep It Wheel. I love ya,

Randy S.g Up the Call: How “This Is God’s House” Changed Me