Up Close, Looks Different
While on our honeymoon I caught many sights and sounds of a country reborn: Vietnam.
Up close, looks different. Richer. Stronger. Incredible history and inspiring strength. Prior to walking the streets there, I had a history book perspective. In front of me, talking with folks and walking with them, my view shifted. What I believed to be one thing, was another entirely.
An oft cited study of families who have an addicted loved one in their midst, tells us that on average it will take seven years for the group to speak up and try to usher in help.
Seven years. Sheesh! Some stretch. 2555 days and nights before it’s just too much to bear, or the fear of the outcome is outweighed by the immediacy of the need to help right now. Seven years. The average.
Because it looks different up close. We love someone, we care about someone while we see them hurting or in the midst of chaos brought about by some behavior we think we are powerless over helping them change. Up close, like the frog in the water on the stove with the heat increasing over time, we don’t notice sometimes just how hot it’s getting.
He’s ok.
It’s better the past three days.
(SEVEN YEARS!)
She made it to work every day last month.
He told me his doctor prescribed it, and he’s taking it as prescribed.
She says she’s okay.
Up close, looks different. The focus shifted, an inventory is taken. We write it out, what we have really seen, what’s really going on. What have you seen? What are you an I-Witness to? Write it down. Consider.
Seven years is the average. Who wants to be average?
Call me anytime.
-Brad