I listen to music while I work out and I’ve assembled a medley of songs that I enjoy from all types of music. I can listen for days to this ensemble and never hear the same song twice. Although I don’t care much for country music, I’ve included a song or two recorded by country artists. Yesterday morning I was listening to Hank Williams Jr. as he blasted out the song, “All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down”.
As I “pumped some iron” and listened to the lyrics of Hank lamenting the fact that all of his hard core drinking buddies had finally settled down and now he had no one to accompany him when he went out on the town and got drunk anymore, it reminded me of a conversation that I recently had with a buddy of mine.
He told me he liked being around me especially at the various parties and functions around town, because he didn’t drink so much when he was with me, (because I don’t drink). He said, “All my friends want to do is drink” and of course that makes me want to join in and I usually get blasted and suffer a vicious hangover the next day. Worse than that, he confided that his daddy was an alcoholic and died of cirrhosis and he fears that if he doesn’t get his drinking under control, he might be joining him in that painful death at some point in the future.
Not drinking was not always the case with me. I started drinking at 12 and was an alcoholic by 15. I was very rowdy and in fact one morning when I was about 19 awoke in a closet with a pair of ladies panties on my head. I had no idea whose they were, how they got there, or how or why I got into that closet. Furthermore I don’t know how I got home. My head hurt, I had a bad taste in my mouth, and I didn’t remember anything because I blacked out. I’d been blacking out for quite some time.
At that point in my life old Hank could have joined me most any night and we would have gotten drunk together and closed down every bar in town. I’m glad I finally wised up and as old Hank put it, “rowdied on down” . Settling down was what I needed and I shudder to think what would have happened had I continued with that lifestyle. I much prefer to lead my simple peaceful life with God foremost on my mind and my family a close second.
Friends can have a positive or a negative influence on how we lead our lives. This is especially true with kids. Choose friends wisely and don’ t put yourself in tempting situations.
As an addendum I saw my buddy at a function recently and he was right in the middle of all those guys he told me about. He was obviously snookered, staggering, and talking loud enough to be heard in the next room. He winked at me and raised and tipped his glass of whiskey at me. I smiled and tipped my glass of Coke right back at him.
Sigh….I must be sure to tell him that he had a good time, because I doubt he will remember…
Proverbs 23:29
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger long at the wine.”