August 2017
Continued from page 1
Here’s a modern parable. At 24, Brad was an
alcoholic. His wife, Annie, begged him to do some-
thing about it. Brad, though, was an expert at kick-
ing the can down the road. Annie pleaded, “Brad,
please go to counseling.” Brad responded, “Look,
real men don’t spill their guts to others; but, if I were
ever to do that, it’ll be years down the road. I don’t
need it now.” Annie would suggest, “Brad, go to
rehab. Sweetheart, your drinking is out of hand.”
Brad countered, “It’s too expensive. Maybe when
we can afford it.” Over and over, Annie pushed Al-
coholics Anonymous. “Twelve Steps has helped
tons of people. It could help you too, and it doesn’t
cost a thing.” Brad: “I’ll think about it. Maybe in a
month or two.” Brad thought about it, but his
thoughts never got him to an AA meeting.
Year after year, the problem worsened. At
thirty, Brad had lost three jobs and the family’s home
because of his drinking. Annie took their children
and left.
Brad isn’t the only one who kicks the can
down the road. In one way or another, many of us
fail to face our problems, causing an ever escalating
set of new problems. So, let’s pause. Let’s examine
our own lives.
What problems have I been kicking down the
road? Drinking? Drugging? Gossip? Overeating?
Too little exercise? Too much TV? Too much Face-
book time? Not praying enough? Too little service
outside the home? Failing to follow Jesus’s com-
mand to give sacrificially to Church and charity?
Not going to mass every week?
I am certainly not exempt from kicking he
can down the road. For far too many years, I was a
workaholic who, because I was putting in 80-hours a
week at work, ignored my family. I didn’t drink,
drug or fool around. I brought my paycheck home.
So, when my wife asked me to change my life to put
God first, family second and work third, I told her,
“Sweetie, I’ll do it.” But, I didn’t do it until the
problem became so great that Kacky threatened to
leave. With God’s grace, I changed my life. After
half a lifetime, I put God first, family second and
work third. The reward for doing so was huge. My
marriage and home life became fabulous joys.
Let me ask again. What can are you kicking
down the road?
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