Willpower

I am fast approaching my five year anniversary, April 1st , for having quit drinking alcohol. It does not seem that long ago since I quit. It was very difficult to give up alcohol and amazingly enough still is. As a young man I had been addicted to drugs for several years and yet was able to give up intravenous drugs without going to rehab. Less than 5% of those who ever put a needle in their arm ever permanently quit (rehab or no rehab), so I am assured that this was a miracle “gift” from God. A couple of years later I quit smoking cigarettes and again without going to a doctor, hypnotist, or support group. I just made up my mind to stop come heck or high water and I did. Likewise I gave up drinking in the same manner, cold turkey.

Of the three addictive habits, drinking alcohol was the hardest to quit. My prayers for strength have intensified during this process and God has come through yet again. Withdrawal from drugs racked me physically and tore my body seemingly to pieces, but after the physical withdrawal was over, the mental “longing” for drugs did not take as long as with alcohol. One reason is that I have avoided those who use drugs and by not having been around anyone socially that was using drugs I have not been tempted to join the fray. Not so with drinking. Almost every person I know drinks socially. Every time I get on a plane they ask if I want a drink; every time I go to a Crown room in the airport they offer free drinks; every time I go out to eat with friends they all order drinks; if I go fishing they all want a “jet cold” beer to celebrate the day’s fun and catch; etc. etc.

Another complication, I had been drinking for a mighty long time, having started when I was twelve and I finally quit when I was in my fifties. It was very difficult to just give up a lifetime habit that I enjoyed very much. I quit because I felt it was not conducive to my spiritual life. I was not going out to bars all night and getting drunk, nor was I having alcohol related problems. I did drink too much on occasion and often felt bad the next day as a result. When I quit I was drinking wine at home every day and looked forward to getting off work and settling into my easy chair for a drink or two or sometimes three and relieving some of the incredible stress I undergo every day. On weekends I would almost always drink a little more. My health was not benefiting from it and I was gaining too much weight and blowing up like a balloon.

I do not believe it is a sin to drink in moderation. Indeed there is plenty of evidence in the Bible to support this. The very first miracle that Jesus performed was turning water into wine at a wedding celebration. Fundamentalists can talk about wine being like grape juice all they want, but there are too many incidents of drunken behavior throughout the Bible to support the notion that wine was grape juice. Wine was wine and I’m sure the wine Jesus created was the finest that anyone ever tasted. With that said many people feel it is a sin to drink period and when we drink around them it sends a message. I do witness to quite a few people and it is difficult to witness to someone on a plane with a drink in one hand and a Bible in another. I did not want to send that message any longer and be an impediment to anyone’s belief system and believe it or not that is the primary reason I quit.

After all is said and done I am glad I quit. I am healthier and happier. I can deal with the occasional longing to order a wine instead of iced tea. I do not have to worry about setting a bad example to someone who may not be capable of drinking in moderation. One thing I have noticed is how silly, loud and often obnoxious those who drink in excess act. I shudder to think how many times I have displayed this type of behavior. I also do not have to worry about driving drunk and crashing my car. I am also very popular as the designated driver now. Being a non-drinker has advantages like being a little wiser. If it did not have more advantages than drinking I would resume drinking, but I’m doneLord willing

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by
it is not wise.