Introduction

underwater fire control system for an antisubmarine rocket. Our
first production unit just rolled off the assembly line, and I was
working night and day to get it up to operational level. A
production engineer named Max was assigned to work with me
during the night shift. The kindest way I can say it is: Max
wasn't much help to me. His wife would call in sick for Max at
least once a week. I could never count on him. When he was at
work, Max drove me up a wall. By the time the night shift came
around, I would already be fatigued from working all day. As I
labored into the evening, he would sit behind me eating
sunflower seeds.

One night out of frustration, I asked Max if he ever went
to church. Max said he wasn't attending any church at the time,
but he and his wife had often talked about it. I invited him to
my church. That next Sunday I met Max, his wife and their
three children, and helped them attend the right Sunday School
classes. Tuesday morning my pastor called, “I thought you
would like to know that I visited the couple you brought to
church last Sunday, and I led them to Christ.” I was elated. He
continued, “Since Max works with you, I thought you needed
to know that he is an alcoholic.” Then it all made sense. That is
why periodically Max missed work, and why he munched
sunflower seeds.

It can be frustrating to work with people who struggle
with chemical addictions. It is even more exasperating for those
who live with them. As difficult as it is for others, it is much
more devastating for the addict. “Who has woe? Who has
sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who
has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those
who linger long over wine, those who go to taste mixed wine”
(Prov. 23:29,30). These addicts are living a mental, emotional
and physical nightmare. For some it is a private ordeal. Others
make life miserable for everyone and anyone around them. I
suspect that the old saying “misery loves company” was
coined for addicts.