World’s Worst Transgressor
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I am the world’s worst transgressor I have murdered millions I have made people failures I have made millions of homes miserable I have changed promising people into hopeless social parasites I have driven untold millions to despair I have wasted the weak I have snared the innocent I have caused starving children to know me I have made the hair turn gray on many parents I have ruined millions and shall seek to yet ruin multiplied millions My Name is Addiction |
World’s Greatest Benefactor
I have given life to millions I have made failures successful I have made millions of homes happy World’s Worst Transgressor Read More » As Sick as Our Secrets
“Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!” And it got me thinking about secrecy. As Sick as Our Secrets Read More » What is True Spirituality?Being “spiritual” does not mean “made up of spirit.” “Spirit” is not a ghost-like substance that inhabits the truly “spiritual Christian.” The adjective, as in “spiritual man” and “spiritual body,” does not mean ethereal, incorporeal, immaterial, otherworldly, or even unworldly as depicted in movies like The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Ghost, and The Sixth Sense. True spirituality takes form as we live in this world in our own bodies following God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. Spirituality is measured by What is True Spirituality? Read More » Is Your Finger on the Feelings Button?Years ago, there was a popular song, “Feelings.” As the lyrics go, “feelings, nothing more than feelings…whoa…whoa…whoa…” But wreck our lives? Well, that’s a different story. For those of us in recovery, for those of us coming from abuse, the feelings thing is a tricky course to navigate. In my case, because feelings weren’t safe in my home, growing up, I learned to suppress, stuff, until…boom! Explosion happened. Not a good coping mechanism. And so, a girl of extremes, when life moved on, I was determined to fully express my feelings whenever I had them. Oh yeah. This was fun and games. No one was going to control me! Hence, I was OUT of control. The cliché in life is true: it’s about balance and moderation. And that was NOT something I was good at. I was not good at dealing, in a healthy with my emotions. Scripture tells us, like it or not, we all need to do this:
Years after the immediate damage of both my eating disorders and my childhood abuse, God has patiently- and gradually- led me into honestly looking at my heart, the factory producing all of these blessed feelings in the first place. Is Your Finger on the Feelings Button? Read More » Urgent? Why??I must admit, my favorite question is “why?” I ask it a lot: of God, of others, of myself, of life. And yes, I ask the why question concerning the tricky addiction/recovery issue. Author, Jonathan Lockwood Huie really takes that matter to task, using two words. “Urgent? Why?” And this is right up addiction’s alley. The fix driving the addiction- why?
Why will this solve things? Why will nothing else do? Why must I be instantly healed? It is that last question which brought two scripture passages to my mind: Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus. Patience: Are we there yet?Visualize this scenario. There’s a car ride going on, containing one or two parents/adults and at least one child in the backseat. The child’s view consists of the following: the back of the driver’s and passenger side seat, perhaps, some toys, games or word puzzle books, strewn throughout. Maybe, depending upon the vehicle, there’s even a Disney film being played on a television screen, just above Mommy or Daddy’s head. We should be hearing the voice of an animated character or the chirp of an irritating child’s song. But, instead, what do we hear? Does this sound familiar? If you have children or remember being one yourself, you’re probably familiar with this nagging, repetitive question: Are we there yet? We want to get there already, wherever “there” is.
It’s the Promised Land, filled with conscientious manners, harmonious relationships, well-behaved children, realized dreams and no bad hair days. Patience: Are we there yet? Read More » Where’s God When I Need Him?If you’re feeling far away from God, guess who moved? Do you ever feel like God’s least present when you seem to need Him most? As I began to get a handle on the depression, I seemed to discover edges to the darkness. Bits of light penetrated the oppressive blanket of despair. And I found that as I felt less lost, God’s presence suddenly felt more real. Where’s God When I Need Him? Read More » Are You Stuck in a Hole?Imagine you’re running a marathon. You’re monitoring the situation, carefully maintaining a reasonable pace based on ability and training. You’ve prepared your body and mind for the race; you know the signs that tell you to run faster or slower, when to drink or eat. You also know about “the wall,” that point where you’ll be tested nearly beyond your ability. You anticipate that burning muscles and aching lungs will challenge desire and discipline. You expect the urge to give up, to stop and allow the pain to subside. The lure of immediate relief will entice you to cast aside goals and dreams, surrendering the satisfaction of the finish line in return for an end to the struggle. Then, without any warning, you fall into a hole. The publicized course didn’t mention this complication. You didn’t train for it, couldn’t see it coming, didn’t prepare survival supplies or pack climbing equipment. There’s no cell phone reception in the hole. You try everything you know to escape from the hole on your own, but Are You Stuck in a Hole? Read More » Fear of DisapprovalI recently came across an image post on the internet. It was a female’s body, in workout gear. And it was accompanied by this statement: “For Every ‘Comment’, I’ll do 10 sit ups, For Every ‘Like’, I’ll do 5 squats. Go, go, go!” (Sigh… Here we go again…) Exercise, goals, striving for improvement/perfection…This is where I squirm, faced with posts as these. Indeed, there is much emphasis on fitness in today’s culture. There are countless gyms, trainers, exercise equipment, programs, workout clothes and shoes, as well as a variety of athletic activities from which to choose. It’s overwhelming. Yet there’s still a rise in eating disorders and in such health issues as Fear of Disapproval Read More » Another’s Critique is Not the Final SayI recently caught a viral video of a turtle repeatedly head butting a cat. The feline, annoyed, swishing its tail, eventually got up and moved. And the turtle was on its way. Is it a lesson in adversity? In persistence? In forging ahead, despite negative feedback? They say we’re supposed to embrace the criticism and the ugly truth. Well saying that, doing that and feeling great about it don’t necessarily happen all at the same time. But criticism and unpleasant comments still occur, often while we’re in the middle of something as challenging as recovery from a compulsion, addiction or disorder. Another’s Critique is Not the Final Say Read More » |
