Addiction is a difficult disease to battle–that is for sure. But, many times we are served with the news of those difficulties in such a way that it can be overwhelming.
You will be told up-front that for an addict or alcoholic, there are only three possible paths. There is recovery, institutions (jail/prison or mental) or there is death.
You will probably be reminded that addiction is at epidemic levels. It will be a long battle and relapse is often a part of the process.
At this particular juncture, most of us have been trying to fight this disease alone. Like me, you’re probably afraid. The ups and downs can easily inch you closer and closer to despair.
I grew weary of hearing people repeat the facts to me. I was tired of hearing the headlines and the number of deaths that occur every day. I was tired of well-meaning people telling me things that my loved one should or shouldn’t be doing.
I was just plain tired. I’m sure that you are too.
To understand addiction you need to have this information. But, it is necessary that we also get some perspective. Once I stopped isolating and reached out for help, that is what I got. It is what I hope to offer to you today…
The first time that I attended an open Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) speaker meeting, I began to see this disease from the perspective of the addict/alcoholic. I was drawn in from the beginning. Before the speaker stood up to share his/her experience, strength and hope, a friend or sponsor gave an introduction that included a bit of background: He/she was introduced as ‘someone who is lucky to be alive’ and ‘was the worst case I’d ever seen.’
The introduction alone illustrated one thing for me: no one, no matter how lost they are in their addiction is beyond recovery. And, that gave me hope.
I regularly attended my own twelve-step meeting. I felt a lot of frustration because I had been trying to fight this disease on my own power. I couldn’t see a way out. My twelve-step friend reminded me that ‘I had my dependance in the wrong place.’ I had been depending on my own power. No wonder I was so worried. I was told that I could hand my loved one over to a power that is greater than myself. I’d never looked at God that way before. This program gave me the understanding that I was putting myself in God’s place. This new perspective helped me to go about the work of restoring that order. And, that gave me hope.
I was told to look at Jesus and how he lived his life. He hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors. Remembering the way that he reached out to the least and the lost gave me the assurance that he could probably be found hanging out at a place called rock bottom. And, that gave me hope.
I think these twelve-step programs are the place to find a daily dose of miracles. No matter which program, you will see a lot of problems. You will see sadness and grief. But, you won’t find despair. There is only hope there. And, hope moves us all in a new direction.
“if thou will attend to thyself and to God, Thou wilt be little moved by what thou perceives outside of thee.” Thomas a Kempis