Sometimes .. Life is or can be a continual test.

Sometimes, Life is or can be a continual test ... and that test can cover everything we may experience in this existence called "Life." Those "tests" or "challenges" will come at you in every facet of your life, from family, to employment, to recreation, to relationships, to your personal health - both physical and mental, to even inanimate things in everyday life.

As we face each challenge, the outcome is dependent upon our choices, often without the consideration of the long range effects, affects, and consequences.

Even now in 2006, I am experiencing the consequences and affects of getting my 2nd DUI when I lived in California in 2001, and the behavior and choices I had made or basically neglected to take care of at the time. Those consequences and affects on my life are nobody else's fault or responsibility but my own.

Without going into details, I will merely state in complete agreement with "Ascended Masters" who have come and gone before us, that much of this life is an illusion of our perception of what is. We face our challenges in many ways. Some will face them with mind-altering substances of alcohol, prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs or "illegal" drugs and substances. Why, because we do not have the personal courage and inner strength to face them on our own together with the Creator. We feel we need something else to not feel the pain of life. We don't want to feel the emotional let down of something not gone our way. We don't want to feel alone. There are many reasons why.

Yet in the same token, when we have made that choice to avoid the use of mind-altering substances or beverages, we begin to face a new challenge unless we are a 21st century hermit lving in a cave, forest, jungle or swamp. That new challenge is finding and making new friends and acquaintenaces who are also "free" of the use of mind-altering substances.

Over the course of my mere four years of sobriety, I can honestly say that there can be no friendship or relationship with someone who "indulges" in the use of mind-altering substances. Even when that individual treats you with the proper and due respect of not using the substance or beverage in your presence. Because one day, they will slip and will use in your presence. And when they do, their personal insecurities which brought them to use in the first place will surface with the splash of a tidal wave.

That tidal splash will engulf you unless you are personally prepared and have within you the internal fortitude and strength of Creator's Spirit to basically walk, if not run from that person. For if you attempt to remain, you will be engulfed yourself. You may not use yourself initially, but the course of events become laid out for you to slip and stumble. And to slip and stumble after having a period of sobriety, often leads to prisons, institutions and death.

The personal emotions associated with walking or running away from such a person, can be emotionally traumatic and devastating. Especially if you have chosen to "ignore" the other person's use and have begun to develop an emotional and physical bond with them. I have been there, and unfortunately done it also a number of times. It just doesn't work.

Silver Eagle