Arrested

“Drugs destroyed my life …”

Dustin was a rebellious, misdirected teenager.  He started smoking cigarettes at age twelve and was bummed out on marijuana by age 15.  He became progressively violent, destroying his own home, starting fights and stealing to fund his drug habit.  His own family became frightened and unable to cope with his behavior, so his father – with his back completely pressed to the wall – called the police to have him arrested.  Being arrested was a sobering “Moment of Truth” for the lad – finding out for the first time that he wasn’t bigger than life … tougher than life … and entitled to everything he could get by any means possible.  Thanks to a lot of social services intervention over an extended period of time – and getting his own back completely pressed against the wall, Dustin’s life eventually turned completely around: “Did I tell you?  My job wants to promote me to be a manager as soon as I turn 18!”*  [from the “Children’s Voice”, a publication of the Kentucky United Methodist Homes for Children & Youth, November/December 2013]

Dustin obviously has a lot of energy and, early in the going, he didn’t know how or where to direct it.  So, like many teenagers, he directed it against authority, the establishment, and anything else that stood in the way of “having his own way” … even if “his own way” was destroying him and everything around him. 

Point to Ponder

How far can we go “against the grain”

until the “grain” won’t take it anymore? 

How much alcohol is too much?

How much tobacco is too much?

How much sugar is too much?

How many drugs are too much?

How much “ME” is too much?

How many calories are too much?

How much neglect is too much?

How much debt is too much?

How much “luxury” is too much?

How much exercise can we forego?

Medically Speaking …

One has to be in great wonderment about the extent of abuse the body will take

before it finally gives out – or even gives a warning.

(But we can get pills for that, can’t we?) 

Professionally Speaking …

I am in great wonderment about the extent to which

some individuals will go completely “against the grain” of their jobs,

  gossiping, playing games, and sabotaging progress

while fighting for even more entitlements …

until the system can’t take it anymore.  

Somebody should have most of us “arrested” before we do grave harm to ourselves and/or to the systems within which we operate.  Better yet, we might just as well go ahead and turn ourselves in for voluntary “house arrest” and sobering up until we get our life together.  Chronic social services intervention from the person behind the mirror may be required for best results.  But the prospect for a positive outcome cannot be overestimated!  Quartermaster

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"You're gonna like the way you look, I guarantee it!" 

George Zimmer

Founder, Men's Wearhouse