Among the many vices some of us find ourselves making exceptional progress with, there is one who is an alcoholic. He attended a 5-month deaddiction therapy at a reputed institution. The person in discussion, was asked to stay on another month at the centre and was then assigned to a particular rural community, as teacher.
From the de-addiction centre the staff accompanied him to his place of appointment. The very next day, this particular confrere went into town and got drunk. The very next day! So much for a 6 month therapy. This drinking binge continued for a couple of days and then he was 'air-lifted' to the centre because his body started to react badly and he needed to be hospitalised.
Within two days after being discharged from the hospital, he is now getting ready to go to another therapy centre to take part in a three-month course!
The travesty of this whole episode is that everyone, except the one in question, is keen to make a change! And everyone thinks attending courses or therapy session will make him get rid of his addition. He is barely given time to make that decision and LIVE IT! This is like sabbatical after sabbatical, with hospitalization sandwiched in. The confrere needs to take responsibility for himself. And if he isn't willing to, then he ought to bear the consequences of that refusal. Pampering one for eternity is detrimental not just to the Province/Congregation, but worse for the individual himself. I fear we are making all the decisions for him and he is happily feeling guilty about it all, without making any serious efforts at change, relying neither on God, nor on self-control, nor out of righteous fear of any repercussions.
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