"Daddy. When you came home last Saturday night and stumbled up the stairs and hollered at Mom I was scared to death. I get really scared and upset when you drink too much."

Tracy Hayes was the speaker. She was eleven years old. She spoke these words to her father during what is called an "intervention." Mrs. Hayes and her children, Tracy and Kevin, along with their pastor, a few friends, and Mr. Hayes’ boss made the very difficult decision to "intervene" in the life of Wendall Hayes. It was their perception that Wendall had become hopelessly addicted to alcohol. Wendall Hayes, that is, was an alcoholic.

They had tried to convince Wendall that his addiction was ruining his life and theirs. Their individual pleas, however, got them nowhere. Wendall Hayes simply would not listen to them. Th…