The Angels Sing

After Agnes Rippen found the parking ticket, she knew it was true: Her husband, Dennis, was hooked on tranquillizers.

The ticket was for parking in a fire lane in front of the drug store, and the pharmacist confirmed he had been taking Valium. Lots of it, it turned out.

What started out at 5 to 15 milligrams a day to handle a stressful job had ballooned to 100 milligrams daily.

Dennis did his best to hide it. But he couldn't hide how he had changed from a cheerful, loving husband into a sullen, withdrawn and foggy-minded man, falling asleep at odd moments, even at the wheel.

For several days, Agnes quietly built her case, including exhibit A, the ticket. Then, one Sunday night in the kitchen came the grand confrontation. Agnes methodically presented the state's evidence, item by item, to Dennis.

How do you explain this? This? This?

He 's lying to me! she thought as he denied it all with faltering logic--the first time she had ever known him to be untruthful with her. Something's taking my husband away from me, and I'm going to fight it!

Agnes herself had broken the chains of alcoholism and drug addiction eight years earlier. She knew there was only one way out: "You have to admit the problem and get help--or leave," she told him.

The denials--the thrust and parry--continued. The words of Jesus came to Agnes' mind: "I am the way, the truth and the life." She kept repeating it to herself mentally to stay calm--her life and the life of her loved one were at stake.

Neither harsh accusations nor pleading would turn him. Stay firm. Don't get scared. And don't dissolve into a teary emotional mush.

Gradually, Agnes became aware of a great "spiritual pressure" in the kitchen--like the weight of one's conscience bearing down--but literally making the air feel heavy and dense. Supporting her--and urging Dennis.

Agnes set midnight as the deadline. It came without resolution, and she went to bed, her life in ruins. Dennis would be gone tomorrow, and she would have to put on her customary happy face for dozens of people at the office.

Continued on page 2: Singing, white-robed angels floated around... »