PTL

Praise the Lord for real friends.

Although it's hard to admit after 17 years of sobriety, I could have very easily thrown that away recently during an outing with some good friends. We were all hanging out for the weekend just to get away from life for a while, and really having a great time just kickin' it.

Saturday Night rolled around, and we were all hanging around the fire just chewin the fat & picking on each other, when some of my friends went out to get a few beers to celebrate the weekend.

I immediately knew I was in trouble, but didn't want to go against my friends' wishes. As soon as they left, however, I knew I had to get out of there so I crawled back into my tent at 8 at night. Earlier when we were talking about our pasts & the stupid things we used to do, I started feeling IT. For those of your that used to drink but no longer do, maybe you'll know what I'm talking about. You know, the feeling like youve already had a few just from remembering what it used to be like. It's a strange physiological sensation & I'd had it before. I knew that as soon as the beers started going around I'd be really tempted to just kick back & have a cold one. First the old memory would kick in & remind me of all the times I got stoned or drunk around a campfire, then once I started feeling that way it wouldn't be a big stretch to actually just go there. And I knew instinctively that would be the turning point for my growth also, once I broke my sobriety I'd have no reason to stop - it's just the addictive mindset.

Don't get me wrong - I know Jesus has completely healed me, & I no longer consider myself an alcoholic or drug addict, but I do believe in those old familiar spirits coming back to haunt me if I put myself in their paths.

But something good came of this whole situation - true friends doing what true friends do. As soon as they returned & found me back in my tent - they put the beer away & asked me to come back & hang out with them again. That was really cool. That's what I call true friends. By the way, if you ever find yourself in that situation with an ex-addict/alcoholic, do them a favor & remember my story. It's about decisions, and what's most important. Thank you my friends. You know who you are.
PTL. - Steven