[Magdalen] 30 Years of Sobriety.

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

December 27, 1984, I entered the diocesan committee room in the
Eau Claire Diocesan Offices just next to Christ Church Cathedral in
that City.
 
I had suspected something was up when the Cathedral Dean called me
the day before and said he wanted "to chat" with me.  The subject  was
avoided.
 
The committee room was set up with a table and four chairs on the  side
opposite the entry, and there was one chair on my side.  The other  four
chairs were occupied by (1) +Eau Claire, (2) Cathedral Dean, (3) the
O/C who was a good friend, and (4) one of the Cathedral deacons, a
fellow physician and friend.
 
It was a classical intervention, by the book and by the clerical  orders
(bishop, priest, deacon, and layman).
 
I almost turned on my heels and walked out for it was obvious to me  what
this was all about.  Thank God I did not.  I sat down.
 
I was gently but firmly raked over the coals.  The message:   alcohol was
quickly sending me to hell in a handbasket, and I needed to clean up  my
act or risk losing everything.
 
My reaction was initially (1) embarrassment, and then (2) anger.  How  could
these people possibly put me through this after all my activity and  support
for the Cathedral and the Diocese?  Then, blissfully, and I can't help  but
feel miraculously, (3) appreciation.  I became aware that "these  people"
valued me enough to take the time and effort to mount this  intervention.
 
I owed them and myself no less than to enter outpatient rehab and AA  that
same day.  I has been TBTG 30 years since I picked up a  drink.  With
God's help, I never will drink again.
 
 
David Strang.