A Long-Term Sobriety Discussion
My wife and I recently hosted our annual dinner party with friends she has known for nearly 50 years. Five women came with their husbands, and most of them knew my long-term sobriety had reached three decades. Some even remembered my drinking days from high school. As the evening continued, empty wine bottles gathered on the dinner table.
Later that evening, one husband noticed I was drinking iced water. He mentioned that his 94-year-old father had maintained long-term sobriety for more than 50 years. Then he asked whether I had quit drinking on my own or joined Alcoholics Anonymous. I told him I got sober through AA. He said his father could still look at a cold glass of beer and admit he missed it. Then he added that he had encouraged his father to drink it if he wanted it that badly. After all, he said, what harm could one beer do at 94?
Understanding Alcoholism as a Disease
His question caught me off guard. Many thoughts ran through my mind, and I did not know where to begin. I realized I was speaking with someone who drank normally and did not fully understand alcoholism as a disease. Perhaps he had not realized the gifts that can come through sobriety, recovery, and spiritual growth. So instead of trying to explain it all during dinner, I smiled and politely changed the subject.
Still, his comment stayed with me. Why did his father still crave a cold beer after more than 50 years of long-term sobriety? Had he experienced the spiritual awakening that AA talks about, or had he only stopped drinking without finding true inner change? Maybe he was what some people call a dry drunk. Or maybe he was not alcoholic at all. Maybe he had quit drinking to save his family, his job, or his health, but never found true peace.
Then a bigger question came to mind: would I ever want a drink when I am nearing the end of my life? For me, the answer comes down to one simple question: is it worth it?
Choosing Sobriety One Day at a Time
For today, I can say no with a clear conscience. Absolutely not. God rescued me from this horrible disease, and the thought of picking up a drink before meeting Him would be a tragic ending. My spiritual connection and relationship with God far surpass any fleeting desire to drink one cold beer. I cannot imagine breaking that bond.
I also think about my family and close friends. What message would that send to them? At the very least, it would feel hypocritical.
The most important truth I need to remember is this: God gave me a new life I did not deserve. Through His grace, He gave me another chance to become the best version of myself. One beer would not add anything to the gifts I have already received. Besides, one beer would only lead to another, and the progression of the disease would pick up where it left off.
I need to remind myself every day that God has given me the gift of sobriety, one day at a time. I must honor and respect that gift with gratitude and take the right actions to maintain it. My sobriety belongs to God, and by His grace, I will protect it.