For the past few days I've been dancing to the strong possibilities that the Democratic party will now win both houses of Congress due to the untimely resignation of Mark Foley. Numerous diaries have been written on the legal implication, flaming away at gays and pointing out the hypocrisy of the law he pushed through to protect children while preying on them at the same time. But now, you Mr Foley, are seeking cover in rehab. So follow me below the fold for a dose of reality and a warm welcome into the club of alcoholics.
Mark, may I call you Mark? Claiming that you have a drinking problem and checking into rehab will not give you a smoke screen for your actions. It will not take the heat off of you for your vile acts, even if they were done when under the influence of alcohol. It might shield you temporary from the press and give you time to work out every angle with your attorneys, but you will have to face your deeds.
See Mark, power is itself an addiction and what you will learn first that there is only one power, your higher power. And this is where you must start, their is no other path, no other option, no compromise. You are powerless, like that child that you attempted to manipulate, you are at the mercy of someone or something greater than yourself. Your higher power (Catholic so I suppose that it is God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy spirit) has been waiting for this moment, for you to seek him out and acknowledge him. Now, under pressure and under protest or fear of prosecution you seek to hide from us. But you can not hide from your God. Your first three steps are to realize this; That you are powerless over addiction, That there is one above you that can help you but only if you surrender yourself to him, and that your higher power seeks you to act. The act is of responsibility for your actions.
And here is were you can not escape, can not hide and can not reform from this illness of alcoholism until to face your past actions. Oh Mark, it's easy to stand up and say that you are a follower, a member of the "moral majority" and that you represent "family values", but to face the victims, the loved ones close to you and your fellow Republicans and say with a contrite heart "I'm sorry"...... that's hard. Forgiveness doesn't come from admission of faults but from reconciliation for those acts that you committed even when under the influence of alcohol. The act of forgiveness comes from others and grace will save you from your disease. But your actions are yours alone to bare, yours to fess up too, yours to place on the alter of your higher power and seek forgiveness.
Mark, it will be tough, every day you will remember those who you hurt, those who you let down, those who see your face and doubt that you are committed to finding the cure for your disease. You can fool some, like the Christian right wing that will say that you have sought forgiveness. But you will not fool those of us who know the heart of an alcoholic, Those of us who faced it everyday and stand upright to say "I am worthy of forgiveness because I accept responsibility for what I did". Not blame the drink or the stress of the job or the position of corruptible power and lust, but for what YOU DID to these children.
Mark, I hope you lean on your higher power now, that you seek him out and listen quietly to him speak. Read the book of James..... it's about responsibility.
God bless you Mark. And may God have mercy on your soul. May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep you heart and mind open. And may the power of God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you, always.
"My name is Pinkpanther, and I'm an alcoholic".