A hopeless chronic relapsing alcoholic addict had fallen into a hole and could not find a way out.
Friends and family heard the alcoholic addict crying out for help in a sincere and despairing appeal, “I cannot go on like this! I have everything to live for! I must stop, but I cannot! You must help me!” So they offered the addict “frothy emotional appeals,” bailed the addict out of trouble and gave the addict a ladder to climb out of the hole with, but the chronic relapser sold it to finance the next spree only to realize afterwards that the hole was now deeper than ever!
A doctor who was walking by heard the alcoholic addict crying out for help, stopping the doctor said, “Here, take these pills, it will relieve your pain.” The doctor offered the addict methadone, suboxene, and a whole plethora of anti-depressants. The alcoholic addict took the pills and said thanks, but when the prescription ran out the pills ran out and the pain came back and the addict realized that he was still stuck in the hole.
A religious person happened to be strolling by and hearing the addict calling out for help stopped and gave the addict scripture, replying, read this scripture while I say a prayer for you.” The addict read the scripture while the religious person prayed, but it the help was all faith and no works and the addict realized he was still stuck in the hole.
A renowned psychiatrist walked by and heard the addict pleading for help. He stopped and said, “How did you find yourself in that hole? Were you born there? Are your parents to blame? Tell me about yourself and your life in that hole, it will alleviate your sense of loneliness.” So the addict talked with the psychiatrist for approximately an hour, then the psychiatrist said he had to leave, but he would come back next week. The addict thanked the psychiatrist for his time even though he was still stuck in his hole.
Finally a ‘recovered’ alcoholic addict happened to be passing by and heard the poor man’s cries for help. Right away, the recovered alcoholic addict jumped into the hole with him. The suffering alcoholic addict said, “Why did you do that? Now we’re both stuck here in this god forsaken hole!” But the recovered alcoholic addict said with a twinkle in his eye, “It’s okay brother, I’ve been here before; I know the way out!”