“The bulk of Australia’s alcohol challenge is in your mum and dad’s house behind closed doors”, The Sun Herald, August 23rd, 2015 page 17.
I was surprised to read in one of Sunday’s papers recently an article suggesting that younger employees these days tend not to stick around and drink at the end of the week for more than a glass with older work colleagues. It didn’t say they went off and partied elsewhere, which is what I expected but instead that ‘young people are turning their back on alcohol while older drinkers show no sign of slowing down’.

It also highlighted that in the 70 plus group people often drink every day. Why? Because alcohol blunts life’s little disappointments. “As you get older there’s more pain, there’s arthritis, there’s hips, there’s aches, there’s often depression, the finishing of careers, boredom, the feeling of loss, impending mortality…” Ouch. All of these are immense drivers toward drinking don’t you think?

This observation is very reminiscent of the last page of Ecclesiastes that I just finished translating as part of my background work for Anton’s Antics shows:

"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, I have no pleasure in the… and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity". Ecclesiastes 12:1ff ESV

No wonder younger generations in the workforce are turning off alcohol as it pointedly displays to them an end they see is vanity. Work hard, own a home, and finish a career of some 30 years and what? Drink. But is there hope for new generations if they don’t fear the Creator. Won’t they just pursue equally empty things; fill the inevitable disappointment with another sedative, another soother. Because there is no avoiding the darker days.

As the weight of these verses crash on our shoulders and we are tempted to look away, we may miss the beginning…
"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come"

The respect for God is key to life.

Our kids have a hope if they can see our joy comes not from the things that decay and pass by like mist. If they can see us soothe life’s disappointments not with alcohol, but through the contentment that comes from knowing God, that He is enough, then that's a mighty encouragement don't you think? 

So how is your alcohol consumption?

Most of us don’t realise we are self soothing life’s disappointments. Life’s grind. It can start with a glass of wine at dinner every night. Then 2 glasses. Then a glass while preparing dinner and maybe one with some cheese and crackers before the meal and pretty soon you’re polishing off a bottle a night.

Have you ever considered how your drinking habits might be discouraging your kids?

It’s worth considering, don’t you think?

 

Remember that all of Anton's Antics live shows and resources are centred on the eternal God and are built to encourage kids on how to live life to the full. Contact me to find out more.