My Dog Threw Up

A Drunks Secret (A Black Dog Taught Me)

What could this have to do with Recovery? Read on and decide for your self.

I recently remembered a lesson I learned long ago. It was one of those lessons I learned but didn't understand the meaning until much later.

I was about 13 years old. My brother had obtained a very beautiful black puppy and called him inky black. Unfortunately he did not have a high-quality mind the dog that is, my brother is genius.

My granddad and I had been fishing. Our fishing poles were right outside the screen porch. One of the cane poles was rigged with 10 pound test mono-filament line and a bright yellow feather lure. (do you see where I'm going with this?).

The beautiful but quite stupid black dog, took the lure. All our shouted commands served only to make him bite down harder and run faster.

I quickly picked up the pole and lifted the tip and sure enough, hooked a 25 pound black dog.

He fought hard. He dug his feet in, He shook his head, ran back and forth while making lots of noises. He was one unhappy puppy and (much to my delight), he could not break the line.

I played him carefully and landed him. Others held him. I unhooked him and like a true sportsman, practiced catch and release.

What had transpired? Why couldn't the dog snap the line? The secret was the natural action of the flexible cane pole.

The dog threw his head from side to side and tried to back up but the rod simply flexed and bent.

Now for all you folks outraged over this apparent cruelty to the puppy. Let me explain. This all took only a few moments and our great concern was that the little fellow would swallow the lure.

I don't know what that treble hook would have meant to his insides but it couldn't have been a happy thing.

Now what could that possibly have to do with drinking and drunkenness, Christians and Recovery? (Or anything else for that matter?) Those are very reasonable questions. My feelings aren't hurt. Question all you want but here is how it works.

You do have to use your imagination. Just a little, but it works a bit like this. Had that dog been struggling against the line alone he would have broken it easily. He couldn't do it. Why?

It was the natural flexing action of the cane pole that made the difference. When the dog pulled, the pole would bend, as the dog relaxed the pole straightened. The little black dog could never put enough pressure on the line to make it break.

You see, Drinkers. Even those who have a tendency to Drink too much or who may be considered Hard Drinkers can, with sufficient motivation, moderate or quit drinking entirely. They may struggle, some more, some less, depending on the individual.

Alcoholics on the other hand, have sort of a psychological or perhaps an emotional cane pole attached to Alcohol. We have taken the bright lure, gotten hooked and cannot by ourselves shake free.

For reasons we don't really understand, Drinkers, even Heavy Drinkers have the dubious luxury of avoiding "Inner Work" Yet they remain alcohol free.

Alcoholic Christians on the other hand, must invite Jesus into every area of their heart and soul and body. We must have supernatural help to deal with the chaos of self will run riot. We must deal with the dishonesty, selfishness, fear and ego, along with all the rest, that makes up our emotional cane pole.

Alcoholism is, that tough, flexible, patient, enduring ability, all true alcoholics have, which is the ability to create wreckage all around them simply by picking up one more drink, because it will never be one more.

If you happen to be one of those with the desire to quit but it just seems a lot harder for you than other people. Maybe it is. Maybe you're one of us. You will only taste the fruit of sobriety, while clinging to the Masters hand. All in all, it's not a bad place to be.

I'm Myke and I'm a drunk and a drug addict. I probably said that over 1000 times the first year I was sober. I expect to say it few thousand more times, if I live.

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