New Insight For An Old-timer

On October 4, 1956, just as first morning light came through the transom window of my bathroom, this alcoholic leaned over the sink after a bad night of drinking, bad week of drinking, bad month of drinking, and yet another year of drinking. All the pain I created, all the lies I told, all the destructive drinking, all my remorse, shame, and guilt, seemed to convene and descend on me at once. It staggered me; my knees buckled under the weight. I looked into the mirror and loathed the image staring back at me. I recall bowing my head and repeating a prayer from the book of Psalms: "Out of the depths I cried to you, oh Lord, hear my prayer."