Detour

Folks, recently I heard some statistics that alarmed and frightened me. As I pondered the problem I searched my mind as to what could be done to improve the situation.

First of all, according to the statistics I heard, 50 percent of our country’s high school seniors are drinking alcoholic beverages. Of those who go on to college, from this group, one half will become binge drinkers. The problem has become so bad that several states have passed laws making it a crime to have a party and serve alcohol to underage children. This is true even if the hosts are parents of the children involved. Folks it is bad when we pass laws to protect children from their parents. It is time to detour and proceed in another direction.

I think I can hear some of you saying, "Brubaker is getting carried away." That may happen in large cities but not in our community. You may be right, and I hope you are, but I doubt it.

Do we realize that as a nation, we make up only four percent of the world’s total population? Be that as it may, we consume better than 65 percent of the drugs used in this world? Are we aware that a high percentage of the prisoners entering our nation’s prisons are young people? That the vast majority of them are there because of drug related crimes?

Things are getting out of control fast. What can you and I do about it?

I certainly do not have all the answers; but once again a song came into my mind. Its title is Detour. I cannot recall many of the lyrics but I do remember a few. ‘Detour, there is a muddy road ahead, detour, I paid no mind to what it said, should have read that detour sign.’

So the detour warning signs are out there! More and more signs are posted almost every day. Are we going to read and believe those signs and do what we can to improve these situations? Each of us must do our part if these and other problems are to be solved. They cannot be solved by putting more laws on the books! In my opinion these kinds of problems can only be solved by a change in the minds and hearts of people!

Perhaps, just perhaps individuals, with Gods help, can do what governments can not do.

Folks, it is worth a try!

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