Sober Up

Bible Excerpt from Luke 21:34-38

http://ucc.convio.net/site/R?i=hIt6z0Ke8pCMqjbe7oIeMg

Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.

Reflection by Lillian Daniel

At my father's funeral, the minister opened up the service for anyone who wanted to come up and speak. She did this because so many of the people in attendance were members of Alcoholics Anonymous, and she wanted to offer them the chance to share in the way they did at meetings. I believe her pastoral sense told her that this would be a tough time for everyone, but in particular for the crowd who must decide day by day to stay sober.

I attended some open AA meetings with my dad, and I heard some wild stories, some of them sad, others darkly funny. The stories were not meant to glamorize drunkenness; they were meant to help the alcoholic stay sober for one more day. They helped us all to pay attention to the gift of the present.

In the Advent readings, Jesus tells us in many different ways to be present. He tells us to stay alert, to wake up and, here, to sober up. I don't think Jesus was making a statement about alcohol but about life. After all, Jesus drank wine himself. But he could see when drinking got out of control, and he cared enough about it to say something. I have no doubt that Jesus is as present around the tables of AA meetings as he is at the communion feast.

Why do people get dissipated and drunk? We turn to that kind of behavior when we are at the end of our rope. We mistakenly think that it will ease our worries, but that kind of behavior can bring worries of its own.

Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

Lillian Daniel