Tremens
The man could be 30 or 60. In spite of the sunny 58-degree temperature and his ratty, olive drab coat, he shivers on the edge of a park bench. Frayed at the hem, his jeans need a good laundering, and his boots are scuffed and caked with mud. His matted hair could be any color; now it is dark yellow ocher, the same shade as the dirt in the gutter. Anxiety and boredom are mixed in his pale eyes and line his gaunt face. When he speaks, his voice is dour and flat:
“Would you have a dollar for a cup of coffee?”
“Sure,” I answer. I dig three or four ones from my pocket and press them into the palm of his trembling hand. His eyes light up and he licks his cracked lips.
“Thanks, man,” he says.
We walk on toward the car. When we are out of earshot, my companion, a devout Christian, says, “You’re so naive. You should have never given him money. He’ll just drink it up.” The expression on her face communicates her contempt for my apparent ignorance. I shrug it off.
“I hope he does,” I respond.
Five percent of acute ethanol withdrawal cases progress to delirium tremens. Unlike the withdrawal syndrome associated with opiate addiction (generally), delirium tremens (and alcohol withdrawal in general) can be fatal. Mortality can be up to 35% if untreated; if treated early, death rates range from 5-15%. — Wikipedia
Tremens has 1 response
tr2 says:
1 January 2008 at 2:34 pm
Your only moral obligation is to give to the one that asks. How he chooses to utilize that which you offer is his to answer for, not yours. Christians are called to give to anyone who needs without qualification.
