Karma

It's always less trouble to take the low road, to smirk and say I told you so under the guise of understanding and self righteousness and call it karma.  But karma comes round, often under the guise of justice, and anyone could be its next victim.  Life has a habit of evening things out in the end and if we ignore those in the most need - because they have hurt our feelings or not lived up to expectations or shown themselves to be dangerously flawed - we may regret it.  To be sick is not to be evil and if you haven't lived another's life, you might want to think before you publicly condemn and name call.  Karma works both ways.

Out of jail, ashamed and repentant, ten days sober.  It's a rocky start and all I can do is pray that it's enough to build on and begin again.  Most everything that mattered to him is gone - home, job, music, friends - sadly, the odds are not in his favor and will diminish if he doesn't reach out so we keep him in our prayers and try to stay cautiously optimistic.  I think - I hope - that these things are not gone forever, that those he damaged might, in time, understand and forgive.  There is no logic or reason to addiction and in recovery, actions speak louder than words.  It's a tragic but certain reality that not all losses are reversible - some people will be hurt too deeply to ever again risk getting close.  Others will be too angry or offended or frightened or tired.
Some will simply not believe in redemption and some - those who jumped ship early and took such pains to warn those who didn't - well, they'll just keep their distance and smugly expect him to falter and fail.  And perhaps he will.  Or perhaps he'll be one of the fortunate ones, kick the habit and get his life back.  Either way, it will hurt none of us to be a little kinder.

I found comfort and courage
in bottles of whiskey
but let me tell you, friend,
that the life is pretty risky ~ Guy Clark