Tale of Two Drunks
December 7, 2006 
I've stopped pulling punches with drunks. They tell me about their drinking, and all the reasons why they drink, and I tell them it's a crock. I tell them they're not drinking because they were mistreated as a child, or because they feel guilty - they're drinking their life away because they're an alcoholic. A couple of weeks ago I sat down with a drunk and he was telling me that he had a host of serious medical problems, not the least of which was cirrhosis of the liver. I asked him if he realized that the booze was going to kill him. He nodded and said yes. I've since realized that's the wrong thing to ask. I've started asking instead if they're going to let the booze kill them. Sometimes the guys will answer the question directly, but sometimes they don't - they just go silent.
Tonight I sat down with a guy who was tanked and, for a while, we actually had a something that approximated a reasonable conversation. About halfway through it another guy sat down, a much younger guy who's trying to get off the booze, who has moved into the homeless shelter and sees this as a progressive step in his quest to gain custody of his son. Oh, for sure - that's not going to happen anytime soon - and he's going to be an emotional wreck after his court date on Monday. But as the old drunk sat there, slurring his words and slumping over, I caught the younger one's eye. "This is what it looks like," I said, "right here. This is what it's like."
He started to cry.
Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh on my part, but I'll be damned if I'm going to play nice with a couple of guys holding loaded pistols to their heads. And you know what the absolutely crazy thing is? The one guy can't stop telling me what a rock I am in his life and the other one calls me his pastor.
Go figure.
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Reader Comments (12)
You are pastor when you get up there and speak and pray but mostly when you love. You have their respect. They know what you stand for and they know if they really want to get help you WILL help them!
I don't think it was wrong to let the young guy hear what you had to say. Tears are good. Even in a man! Maybe just maybe it was enough to keep him sober another night. And then maybe Monday he will be in court sober! Maybe!
(i happen to go with the whole pastor thing...ever thought of doing/being that? huh, huh??)
I'm proud of you for taking the hard path.
When Truth is recognized I like to think it's really Jesus being recognized. And their recognizing Him in you.
God bless you.
Thank you for allowing us a glimpse into the unfolding...
I love what you do and say. Today I was in the market square in town at 5:30am (fuller story over at my place)- meeting with ordinary people. A new step for me - and it was good. Thank you for inspiring me because of who you are and how you minister God's love.
nice isn't. plain and simple. we tiptoe around each other like we're fragile and then we start to believe it. we are not fragile. we are made of stronger stuff than we know. you're reminding them of that every day and they appreciate it.
so do i.
Obviously they don't need someone to hold their hands, they need someone to tell them truth in love.
Well done, Rick. Keep doing it just how you have been...don't change a thing.