[Magdalen] 30 Years of Sobriety.

[Ginga Wilder]

Happy Anniversary, David, and thank you for sharing this milestone with us.

Blessings,
Ginga Wilder

On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 11:02 AM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen <
magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:

>
>
>
>
> 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.
>