Comment Response

I wanted to thank everyone for their comment on my last post, but instead of addressing them individually I thought that I would give a blanket response on this post. Just an experiment that might go horribly awry, but I fly by the seat of my pants.

Before I begin I want to say that I think all of the advice was good, and I took it well, knowing that I will use each one in some form or other. So my response is in no way argumentative, it is more questions actually to move forward.

I am torn sometimes between my spiritual self and my worldly side. I understand telling someone that I will call the cops on them if they ask again, because that will deter them from approaching me, and I will use that. But the question I ask myself is am I willing to go through with it if I am faced with having to do so? Unless this kid is slow to learn, I don’t believe that he will approach me again especially since I drew boundaries not to cross. That and I am a big guy, but what if the guy does approach again and I have threatened him with the police I don’t know if I could actually call them. I know that I would be doing him a favor getting him off the streets and away from drugs, but use in the jail system is just as bad, I know. Even in county jail it is pretty bad about drug use. Some jailers do drugs and they know how it is. As a Christian I know to abide by the law, but at what cost? They might even get a slap on the hand and back out in no time. Or nothing is found and nothing happens. Also it is my word against his word. Plus the drug task force is so focused on the big catch that they sometimes don’t even respond to smaller calls. I know this too from working here. My worldly side says what’s the use? My spiritual side says the threat and following through is the right thing to do. Which side should I listen to?

I do know groups that I can offer them, I just don’t attend them. My approach to them about that is if they need to talk to me instead with honest questions about getting over it, then I do know enough about that to talk, I am just not strong enough for them to continue bugging me about buying. But I know my weakness, and no matter how cliche’ it sounds, knowledge is power. Which brings me back around to the question above. People that talk to me on my blog I do e-mail them to let them know we can banter back and forth, that if they are down they can always write. I also let them know that probably a group or counselor would work for them, but to be careful in picking one out. One that they feel comfortable with.

My counselor does not have an honest view on the world of drug use and abuse. It might be my warped opinion but unless someone has truly been in it they don’t understand unwritten rules and how to talk to them. You can use psycho-babble all you want to these people they know. Some are very intelligent in listening to how you phrase your sentences, and can get defensive very quick. Might just be my view but that is how I do view it. I think that I handled the first part right, but again a part of me feels like there is more. A part of me doesn’t want to scare away someone that I could help when they are ready to talk.

I am happy about the book coming out I think that it will be useful for others in removing some of the stereotypes that some of the Church of Christ might have. The blogs I read from other Church members are struggles and a real desire to do God’s will in the world. These are struggles we all face, no matter what ‘denomination’ a person is.

With all that said, I overcame another obstacle. I was in my medicine cabinet and I ran across a bottle of Flexeril, Flexeril is a cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxer that I had for my back. It is a mild drug that is kind of moving up the list as a recreational drug, but right now it is not classed as the same as pain pills. These were 10 mg tabs, it takes anywhere between 20 and 80 mg to feel the effect of Flexeril. When I found them I thought I could take three first, 30 mg, and go from there since they are two years old what little potency they had might have diminished quite a bit. So I thought a little more, the effect that they would have with the medicine I am taking now the side effects will be increased, that is not a good thing, maybe at one time but not now. I know myself and I would have eventually surpassed the 8 pills that it would take to get the biggest response from them. Nee-Nee came up and I knew I had to do it without thinking so I told her that I had something for her. I reached up in the cabinet and handed her the bottle and asked her to throw them away for me. Of course she had questions, but I just told her the truth that I ran across them and I knew what I would do if I kept them. She told me that she would throw them away downstairs. I was glad she did because I knew if they were upstairs they would not be safe. God did it for me, I knew that if I waited for Noreen to leave without telling her then I would never tell her. So I had to do it without thinking.

Thank you all for your support and answers, like I said I am going to put them to use, but now I have more questions about the extent I should go, and how do I balance the spiritual side and the worldly side?

Oh yeah, one last comment to respond to. Dusty, yes Santa has a lot to hide, he sneaks into peoples houses saying that he is leaving free gifts, yet he always eats whatever is left out on the counter. Sounds like a Santa payola scandel if you ask me. What about the people that don’t leave something for him to eat? Does he avoid those places? I believe that Santa was under investigation last time I heard.

Love you all,

D.