our friend relapsed. my guess is that he just got tired of trying so hard to do the right thing. i don't think he wants to be a hostage to his addiction. but this is an illness. not unlike cancer, he cannot always control it. it can go into remission but it can resurface again with little warning. the problem is that his illness is much more visual and ugly to the eyes of those on the outside looking in. this illness is not judged as a physical illness, rather a social illness that is not acceptable and not lovable. of course that is not the Truth. some of us know that, fortunately. i think his addiction is not much unlike my food addiction. when i am lonely or hurt i will bury my hurt in comfort foods. it is easier to hide, so people are not as likely to judge or notice. he must have been hurting so badly and he must have felt so lonely that he went back to what he thought would dull the pain. i think deep down he knows that is not the answer, which is why he was contemplating the decision to go for professional help. we can love him and we can listen to him, but none of us are really trained or educated in what it takes to truly help kick the addiction. we are a part of the solution, but the main part of the answer lies within himself and he needs to find it. i think just about the best outcome is what actually happened. although i hate to see anyone sit in a cell, at least he will not be able to fall into the bottle. he will be able to think and pray and be with himself. hopefully, God willing, he will come to realize that he is a wonderful person who really can make a positive difference in this world.