Honestly, no one wakes up one day and wants to say: “Hey I’m Chuck and I’m an alcoholic.”

To label is to define is to self prophesy. In no way shape or form (disclaimer) is this meant to judge other doctrines or agencies.

But to label and diagnose, is to stake a claim and verbalize an investment into saying that addiction has a power, a hold, a residence.

But what is it really?

It’s not an independent entity that has its own autonomy. Alcohol sits in a bottle on a shelf. It causes no destruction. It remains on the shelf. Until purchased, consumed and then a one sided interaction comes from human to substance. Drugs remain untouched until human hands choose it.

it is the relationship to the substance that speaks the truth. It is the purchase and the consumption and the hope for…what?

Addiction is not a crazy runaway train that exists on its own.

It exists because of the relationship established to it.

“It serves while it destroys.”

What is to be gained from reliance on anything really? Excessive hours spent at the gym, countless hours in pornography, how many bottles purchased of alcohol, how many bong hits, doobies smoked, how many lines snorted, how many meals skipped for the sake of being “skinny”, how many hours poured into “ministry” in the name of the Lord?

Addiction is addiction. It’s actually a place we visit in order to find respite and relief outside of Christ, outside of health and wholeness. It could be the gym, it could be with a drug dealer, it could be at work, it could be a hobby, there is no use in demonizing escapism.

What are we trying to escape?

What are we trying to disappear into?

Whom are we trying to please? What invisible whip is cracking behind us that we are trying to appease?

What do we feel like we need to escape into?

To what do we suffer with? Anxiety? Fear? Trauma?

Why do we need to be “addicted”?

To take the wind out of the sail of it all, the substance or the addiction really is unnecessary and can be done without.

It’s our relationship to it that we have to address.

Why do we have to disappear?

To make ourselves small?

Or even….what are we running away from?

What do we feel like we need to hide in?

If it seems insurmountable. If it feels like a death sentence. If it feels like the only way we can cope?

Addiction would never be appealing if there wasn’t something inerrantly wrong? Something that calls for your attention? Something that had wreaked havoc, disturbed your peace.

Let’s take the power out of “it”.

Nothing controls us that we don’t surrender control to.

It really isn’t this big bad force or entity by itself that comes for us.

It’s not the whiskey that comes for us, its the relationship to the whiskey.

Often people face the fear of not being accepted, loved or wanted. It is the fear of rejection, of pain. of continuously being unloved.

In addiction comes the false sense of “acceptance”. Of being “wanted” of being able to “unwind” and no longer feel pressure. But the truth is, online pornography sites, alcoholic drinks, snorted lines, smoked bongs/doobies and endless hours at the gym, parenthood, hobbies, the “best of the best”…escapism.

what/who weren’t we accepted or wanted by that we choose to default to a mindless entity for comfort?

to what are we seeking validation from?

Addiction “serves while it destroys.”

The hope is it doesn’t have to destroy you.”