In the last two sections, we discussed the story of Mike and Gail, and how Mike's addiction led to Gail insisting on a divorce.
Yesterday I found out about Mike and Gail's divorce. Mike was a good friend of mine, but I never knew what was happening, until it was over. At first, they made it sound like it was due to some sort of incompatibility, but the real story went around our circle pretty fast. Secrets melt in the glare of a divorce.
At first, I didn't believe it. Mike and I were raised in the same kind of home and we went to the same yeshivah. In fact, I always admired him. He was a good student and spent a couple of years learning Torah before going into business. It turns out that his bad habit started slowly, and only Gail knew about it.
You'd think he would have been smart enough to see this coming. What I don't understand is why he continued, even after his family life started to fall apart.
I thought a lot about how their whole family is suffering. What can I take out of this? I guess that most of us don't see ourselves too clearly. Even though it seems like a bizarre possibility - if it can happen to him, it could happen to me.
I can't forget about poor Mike! He's lost so much. I hope he can still clean up his act and get on with his life.
These e-mails are excerpts taken from the book "Windows of the Soul" by Rabbi Zvi Miller of the Salant Foundation.