Counseling as Change
I realized again this evening that being a counselor is to be involved in helping people change. I know that some don't see it that way. Some see counseling as a way of coping and therefore not having to change. But I am trained mainly as an alcohol and drug counselor and one thing we want our clients to do is change. If they don't they will go crazy or die. They have to change more than their use of alcohol or drugs. They have to change their whole understanding of the world and their place in it. They have to develop a way of living that has some kind of spiritual foundation. They, in short, have to have a conversion. Change.

I know there are those who are opposed to AA and this spiritual stuff, but in the broadest sense of the word, it is the only thing that will bring about a lasting change away from alcohol and drugs. It involves learning about forgiveness and hope; grace and acceptance; wisdom and peace. It brings about the willingness to work with others and look beyond ones own self.

Which is why I think alcohol and drug counseling is such a good paradigm for the work of the leadership in the church. Especially those trying to do a turnaround or restart. Tom Bandy's incredibly challenging and on-target book, Kicking Habits talks about the addictions that the traditional church is caught in. Turnaround is intervention and recovery. There are times when good counselors will not win popularity contests, even among their most satisfied clients. The confrontation of negative, healthy, unspiritual habits are essential. If done with grace, such confrontations can bring about healthy change, but not without pain and gnashing of teeth. But such pain at that point is far better than the wailing and gnashing that occurs when things continue to go downhill in addiction.

From the Newswires:

History Repeats- Sort Of
Replica Wright Flyer ends up in puddle [CTV.ca News Staff]
   Engineers tried twice to launch a replica of the Wright Flyer today as part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of flight. Coincidentally, many of the same problems faced by Wilbur and Orville in 1903 came back to haunt today's pilot... The replica plane, piloted by N.Y. engineering professor Kevin Kochersberger, began to move at around 12:30 p.m. ET. It moved for a few seconds and then slipped into a puddle.

What's this About Ethical Treatment?
PETA plans to hand "Your Mommy Kills Animals" flyers to kids at Nutcracker performances.
   The fliers urge kids to "ask your mommy how many dead animals she killed to make her fur clothes" and include a color drawing of a woman plunging a large bloody knife into the belly of a rabbit. - from Metafilter

You Mean It Didn't Work?
Bank Robber Loses 'Stupidity' Appeal
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) - A bank robber has lost his bid to overturn his conviction by arguing the stupidity of the crime proved he was too drunk to be responsible. ...

Hernandez, 57, argued in his failed appeal that trying to rob the same teller who, moments earlier, had refused to cash his check was stupid enough to show he was inebriated.