Alcohol, Camera, Action!

Imagine it. You are a 64-year-old man who likes to throw down a few beers so you head out one night and proceed to get wasted, so wasted in fact that you draw the attention of police officers who find it necessary to beat you senseless.  There you are, laying in a pool of your own blood, hand-cuffed, dazed and confused.  Sounds like an average night downtown "Any City USA" right? It would have most likely gone unnoticed except that a reporter shows up with his camera and happens to catch it all on tape.  Did I mention that you are black and your assailants are white?  The media salivates.

They say you resisted arrest and hit an officer and since you were drunk you really aren't the most reliable witness. Now what? Who is to blame?  You? For drinking too much and attracting attention? Or those officers? Maybe that guy with the camera is to blame for if he hadn't been there, no one would know the truth. 

This really happened just recently in New Orleans. MyWay News reports in an article that, "Many officers deserted their posts in the days after Katrina, and some were accused of joining in the looting that broke out. At least two committed suicide. Conditions have improved - officers now have beds on a cruise ship - but they don't have private rooms and are still working five, 12-hour days."   The officers are under major stress we know, but does that justify beating up drunks?  Did they really exercise an abuse of authority or resort to what was really necessary? I don't know and unless you were on that street the other night as a first hand witness, you don't know either. One things is for sure, the drunk man and the police officers are hurting - one way by drowning himself in alcohol and the others by alleged uncontrolled rage.

There is only one cure for such brokeness, knowing who God is and allowing Him to heal you from all your pain. Hosea tells us what kind of God spoke us into existence in chapter 11 and explains how He takes us by the hand and leads us in kindness and love, teaches us how to walk, feeds us, and lifts the burden from our shoulders.  

Maybe tonight you plan to have a drink or two or three because by doing so you can forget your pain, and while you are totally aware of the fact that getting high doesn't make the problem go away, you do it anyway. I understand.  I've been there. Let me just leave you with this friend, it doesn't matter if you go out and drink yourself blind, God still loves you and will not forsake you.  He knows where you hurt and He knows the cure. Maybe some time you will look Him up and just take a shot at what He's offering you - life and life more abundantly.