I was at the ICU unit today visiting a family whose daughter is on life support because she was with her intoxicated boyfriend as he drove into a light post. (This is the second time in six months, same ICU, same issue.) I don’t know all the details, but this I know: This young lady was a passenger in a car driven by a person who was drinking. (An open container was found in the car.) I write this tonight with a heavy heart for her and her family. I write this because I work with students who continue to use. I write this not to place guilt or shame, but to keep in front of all who would read this the truth about alcohol and the truth that choices have consequences.

When I walked into her room, I could not help notice the I.V. bags, the life-support machine doing the breathing for her, the blood continuing to drip from her mouth, her half-shaved head, her bruised face. I was speechless. The only thing I could do was pray silently for her, for God to perform a miracle, for God’s help in this great time of need. I prayed with her brother who is part of the NextGen ministry, a servant, a kind-hearted young man who is devastated. It was just Friday morning he prayed with me about his sister and about her relationship with the young man who was driving. Early Saturday morning the accident happened. As a youth pastor, there is nothing harder than walking into a waiting room with families hurting, heavy with pain for the loved one who is struggling for life. Even now after hours have passed since visiting, my heart aches for this family, for this young lady.

While in the waiting room, I received a call from another student who was upset about having partied on a previous night. He shared with me his known inability not to partake, his inability to say no to a night he knew he would end up vomiting. I told him where I was…ICU with a family and daughter on life support due to the same issue with which he continues to struggle. This alcohol lifestyle is killing students daily. It may not be today, but the outcome is surely around the corner. Partying is just an escape period and for those who don’t want to deal with it, speak about it or face the fact there aren’t any options any more. We must face it! We who have sons and daughters, who work with students daily never can stop speaking about the consequences. We never can stop speaking into their lives. We may not be liked; we may not be treated kindly; we may be called all sorts of names; but we must intervene.

The idea that alcohol is a right of passage or part of being a teenager is a lie. First, student are underage. Second, alcohol is another drug. Third, being buzzed, drunk, high brings with it consequences that one may not be able to overcome. As a youth pastor, it really is time for those of us who see it, feel it, deal with it weekly to speak up, to tell the truth that the lifestyle of partying offers nothing good.

My heart is heavy today. You see, I know the answer. I know the truth. I know not enough people are listening. I wish I could help. I know that a person will continue to use until he or she comes to his or her own reasons to quit partying, but that may be too late. There is no way to speak cute, glamorous or PC about it, which leads me to another issue within the issue. While the world says drink to be happy, to have a cold one in order to be cool and accepted, drinking doesn’t have to be a part of growing up. While the world pontificates about the religion of using, there is a problem.  What about those who claim to follow Christ? What about those who desire to follow Him with all their heart? I know full well of the days I partied. I know full well how much I appreciated a good buzz.  I know full well that in those years the last thing I cared about was walking with God or following Christ. Oh, I felt guilt and shame continually, and that is why I drank again and again and again. The cycle went on for a long time until I came to the bottom. I wasn’t sparred the consequences; I wasn’t sparred the distrust from those around; I wasn’t sparred an accident that should have been my wake up call.  It didn’t take long to form my dependence on feeling good, blocking out pain, being in and at the party even if I was by myself. I was addicted, and nothing was going to stop me except my brokenness, my decision to stop and my complete and utter reliance on God.

I finish this article with a heavy heart for this young lady. I find myself praying for her and her family often. To my friends in Christ who may gloss over this issue, to my friends in Christ who struggle with the courage to face the problem, that is the problem of living in this world and not offending others, I have a few questions: Is that the life the Lord wants of His followers — to live as if we answer only to ourselves and that our actions don’t impact others? Is it really right to think that we can do whatever we please? Is it really OK to think playing drinking games is just a phase?

Maybe I’ve been in my field too long. Maybe I’m just tired of watching students self destruct due to using. Maybe I have had enough of the pain in my own life, I don’t know…but I do know that doing student ministry is where I reside, that student ministry has a high value, that doing student ministry means I must tell the truth. Maybe one day, tragic events and the phone calls from students will cease. Until then, I want to remind readers there is an enemy wanting to destroy people. He is evil, ruthless, hates God and everything about God’s purposes.

Reevaluate everything, because the devil is coming after life in huge ways.

DonSolin.com