Last week after lunch, I was relaxing on my lounge chair and dozed off for

a few minutes, when suddenly I woke

up and realized that I had accepted an invitation to attend a drug court

graduation at the St. Charles Parish courthouse. I was honored to be invited, but believe me, I didn’t feel like driving to Hahnville.

After battling with myself about going or not going, I decided to go. My intention was to make an appearance and leave early. The judge presiding over the program was newly- elected Judge M. Lauren Lemmon. The way she conducted the ceremony kept my attention, and I didn’t want to miss any of it.

The graduation lasted an hour-and-a-half, and I was impressed by Judge Lemmon’s handling of each individual.

I pray she will never lose the passion and servant’s heart that she exhibited that day.

Of the 18 to 20 people in drug court that day, I knew half of them. One young man I had tried to work with for 10 years graduated. Evidently, the two-plus years he spent in drug court was what he needed.

As I drove home after the program, I was reminded of what I heard many times over the years. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Judge Lemmon showed she cared.

The drug war is as much a problem today as it was 10 years ago. We are losing the battle, but with what I witnessed in the St. Charles courtroom, I am confident that with committed, compassionate people like Judge Lemmon, we will make a difference in people’s lives.

If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call (985) 652-8477, or e-mail: hkeller@comcast.net.