Re: OxyContin - One Young Man's Story

Dquixote1217,

Congratulations to your son for having a father like you. My brother died 23 years ago trying to deal with life after growing up on drugs. He had spent the last ten yrs. of his life in rehab 3000 miles away in San Fransisco while taking small jobs as a roofing contractor (he had to tie himself onto the roof to avoid rolling off when he blacked out). He could have been a great artist and expressed his dreams very well on paper (he rivaled Peter Max). He had many interests in life (the measure of a person), but I think the worst part about drugs is that it demoralizes even a strong person and overrides (competes with) their dreams.

It must have been devastating for your son to lose his dream of soccer.

When I was a teen (10 months younger than my brother), chess was my dream,...the most intense, self-realizing, and joyous activity of my life, but I was a loner, and after my chess partners all moved away, I simply gave up on life.

It's not simply "time and determination to get past his nemesis" that will help him salvage his life, it is the ability to pursue a dream. Chess is intensely self-indulgent and requires the "martial arts" of the MIND.

For the last eight years, you glorified God in the way that you helped him, but in order for him to enjoy life, he has to pursue a new dream and exercise his sportsmanship.

(I always compared the strategies of martial arts and chess,...the wisdom to use the strength and tactics of your opponent to your benefit).

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