I Like Beer (Lessons from the Past)

Last night I was sitting in the cafeteria at Methodist Hospital in Houston eating a late supper.  3 ladies a few tables from me were having a good time laughing an going on.  As I was leaving, I spoke to them and it turned into a long conversation. Something one of them told me led to this post about beer.

After some conversation, I finally told them about going to rehab and my wife being in the hospital at the same time.  I told them about Jared.  We talked and talked about alcoholism and one of them told me her husband was an alcoholic.  I started talking about the 12 steps and she said they wouldn't work for him.  His biggest problem was he like the "taste of beer".  After laughing and then feeling bad about laughing, I told her  all alcoholics love the taste of whatever they are addicted to.  Beer is as good as any an addiction.
Another reason that I chose this was when I first talked to my mom when I got out of rehab we talked about beer.  She said that my dad liked beer and he would sometimes carry two around at a time.  But then she said, he couldn't have been an alcoholic because he only drank beer.  She said you have to be hooked on the "hard stuff" to be an alcoholic.  I laughed at that one too.
There is such a misconception in our society about alcoholism and how to identify it.  Many people think that beer can't hurt you as far as alcoholism is concerned. They seem to forget that beer is made of alcohol.
I proceeded to tell the woman last night, that I felt like I knew what her husband's biggest problem was.  She looked at me wanting to know. 
I told these 3 ladies about the first 3 steps in the 12 step system.  I told her that her  husband has a problem with the higher power concept.  Step number two tell us that we come to believe that a power greater than ourselves can help us.  Number 3 tells us about turning our live over to the Higher Power (Power of our Understanding) to relieve us of our dependence on alcohol.
This lady looked me straight in the eye and said that was his problem.  Quite frankly, it's pretty easy to diagnose because that is the root of the problem.  Alcoholics and addicts refuse to let anybody else control their actions.  They have no chance at recovery if they can come to recognize a Higher Power.  It's amazing how it works, they get to choose their own Higher Power as long as it's not addictive.
Last night was a blessing to me as it helped reinforce my connection with God.  God was there with me. 
If you are one of the ladies that were there with me, thanks for letting me share my story with you.

Mike

 

Don't Want to Waste My Life

Wow, while searching you tube for music to describe my next post, I ran headlong into the video featured here.  Mike liking rap, never thought this old South Austin boy could come to that.  Play the video while I finish this post.

Mighty powerful song.  I was thinking about Jared a lot today and thinking what a waste. Too many people have trouble with that Higher Power thing.  Find your Higher Power as you understand him/her.  Just grab on and hold on. Three young men that I either met in rehab or just out of rehab have died in the last 30 days.  Don't let it happen to you or one of your loved ones. 
I believe that God gave this video to me to share with you.  Please get help and don't waste your life.  If you know someone in trouble, please get them help.  Click on the links in the header.

We took my wife to the doctor today and she is doing great.  God is giving us another chance and I promise that we won't waste it.
Tomorrow, I talk about the time right before my intervention.