Whenever I speak to anyone in the Church about my ministry, two very distinct things usually happen. The first is that I am offered whatever I need to carry out this ministry. This could be offering a room for a 12-step meeting, allowing me to speak to those in pastoral care or sponsoring an event. It is a welcome change from even just a few years ago when the mere mention of addiction brought a blanket of discomfort into the conversation. It’s a visible sign that the stigma of addiction is beginning to crumble.
The second thing that usually always happens is when I go to leave there is a pause followed by some iteration of this offer: “If we can find a place where your topic is relevant , we’d love to have you speak.”
While I am grateful for this progress honestly, I want more. I want more for those affected by the disease of addiction and I want more for my Church family. Let me explain what I mean…
The Reverend Dr. Barbara Holmes, a scholar of African American mysticism says, “The key to our greatest spiritual lessons lies in transforming our greatest crisis.” Addiction in this country is at epidemic levels. It does not discriminate and affects far more families than you are probably aware of. It is a crisis of our time. I think it is also an opportunity.
It is a moment in our time where we can look at our suffering world and acknowledge that something has gone array. Somethings need to change. There is a poverty of spirit that is killing our young people at alarming rates that needs the attention of every person in our Church family. We need to begin to dig into this problem to understand it so that we can do all that we are able to take care of each other as children of God.
Back in 1961, the psychiatrist Carl Jung understood the problem of addiction when he wrote to Bill W. in a letter, “Alcohol in Latin is spiritus. You use the same word for the highest religious experience as well as the most depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is ‘spiritus contra spiritum.'” This is thought to mean that high spirit conquers low spirit. Dr. Jung saw beyond the physical manifestation of addiction. Do we?
I think the problem that we currently face is a proper understanding of addiction. Most folks think that drugs and alcohol are the problem. They are not. They are symptoms of the problem that create additional problems. Consider diabetes for a moment. Frequent urination is a common symptom. Sometimes it is the thing that indicates there is an underlying problem. But it isn’t the problem. It is a problem associated with diabetes. You can’t isolate kidney function alone and treat diabetes. You must focus on the body’s ability to process sugar.
The same idea applies to addiction. Yes, the addict or alcoholic will need to stop drinking and/or using. But if they don’t do the real work associated with their addictions, they will probably not be able to stay sober. Or they will be physically sober and not emotionally sober.
The problem of addiction is dis-ease, dis-order and disruption in our relationships to God, self and others.
If you’ve ever attempted to read or work the 12-steps, you know this. Steps 1-3 work to restore order between you and God. Steps 4-7 help you to restore order within yourself, steps 8-9 help restore order between you and your friends and family members. Steps 10-12 help you maintain that order so that you can rejoin your community and the world-at large enabling you to give back what you’ve been given.
Who is better qualified to help with a spiritual problem than the Church? And who is better able to teach the Church about humility than a recovering addict or alcoholic? To me, it seems like a win-win situation. It could be a part of the eternal exchange of love that is mentioned in our Catechism (221).
How would that work? I don’t know. It is only a dream or perhaps a prayer.
But we start by talking and sharing.
We begin by seeing those who suffer with the eyes of Christ.
We work to understand the trauma that brought many of those affected to the place where they find themselves to be and often–quite often, we will see God reflected in those that we hope to help, realizing that we are the ones who are receiving.
Is any of this relevant to the the teachings of the Church?
For me, it’s everything that I’ve ever studied when I’ve read the gospels. What about you?