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The fuzzy, glassy-eyed look at life

July 9, 2011
Proverbs 23:29-35 (GW)
29 Who has trouble? Who has misery? Who has quarrels? Who has a complaint? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who drink glass after glass of wine and mix it with everything.
31 Do not look at wine because it is red, because it sparkles in the cup, because it goes down smoothly.
32 Later it bites like a snake and strikes like a poisonous snake.
33 Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mouth will say embarrassing things.
34 You will be like someone lying down in the middle of the sea or like someone lying down on top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 “They strike me, but I feel no pain. They beat me, but I'm not aware of it. Whenever I wake up, I'm going to look for another drink.”
I cannot imagine drinking a giant alcoholic beverage and then stumbling out of a restaurant -> aided by a walker. I witnessed an elderly person do that recently and it got me to thinking of my experience. If you’ve ever had a few too many drinks or perhaps one giant drink, you understand that glassy-eyed look experienced by those who enjoy choice beverages. I find it unnerving that several pictures of me looking like that show up in the scrapbooks and photo albums of my life. The worst part of looking at those photos of my glassy eyes is that I was not 100 percent present with the people in the photos. I missed meaningful moments thanks to the way alcohol worked on me. My biggest regret is that my child watched me drink. 
My favorite beverage made me feel physically ill yet I persisted in drinking after God changed my life. I was a social drinker who took chances. One drink incapacitated me; made me sick. Then I'd get on the road. Only God saved me and those on the road with me.
It took several years for me to quit drinking. I resisted the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Then one day I was simply embarrassed to drink in front of my boss, an amazing Christian. Shame pierced my heart.
God has a way of giving us powerful lives once we’ve chosen to take the journey with him. But we must want what God wants. We must surrender every deep and dark corner of our hearts and minds. I don’t have to drink (watch TV, overeat, fill-in-the-blank) to have a good time anymore.  Have you invited Jesus to help you heal those hurts? Are you willing to allow the Lord to clean out those parts of your life that need to change?
An occasional drink made me sick. You may drink all the time to take the edge off your life. Or you may smoke, take illegal drugs or have a coping addiction. I'm here to tell you that only God can deliver you and break your chains if you choose to be set free.
 Only God can set you free.
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
August 30, 2011
P.S. I had a hard time deciding to post this note. But this morning the Holy Spirit prompted me to find the Scripture. That’s when I knew I had to share this post.
For the record, I do enjoy a glass of fine wine for special occasions but mostly at home.  I don’t want to be glassy-eyed and incoherent – I love my life of adventure with God.  I urge you to get help for your addiction(s) from a good Christian counselor, pastor or godly person who can hold you accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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