Thursday 23rd July - Addiction

DAILY BYTE

Yesterday we started reflecting on how the demoniac in Mark 5:1-20 can be a helpful, symbolic description of broken parts of our own selves.

The metaphor of demon-possession has been used, in an insightful and helpful way, in talking about the common experience of addiction. Addiction, of course, comes in many forms. It’s not just the more visible addictions of alcohol, drugs and gambling that map out the territory that addiction commonly roams. In many other ways, often very subtly and even beyond our conscious awareness, we fall prey to addictions of many kinds.

We can be addicted to our work, we can be addicted to food, we can be addicted to TV, or the internet, or sexual intimacy, or pornography. We can be addicted to popularity or prestige or dominating power. Some people are addicted to pain. Wealth, consumerism and the lure of eternal youth are common addictions.

As we think about the recent death of Michael Jackson, his musical genius and yet the undeniable tragedy of his life, one cannot but help wonder about the various addictions to which he was especially susceptible. This is in no way to pass condemning judgement on him, but simply to acknowledge the reality of his human frailty and how easily that can become manifest in addictive patterns of behaviour. And this, of course, is true for us all.

One common misunderstanding about the way in which addictions take hold of us is to assume that our addictions are simply the consequence of our lack of will-power. This misunderstanding suggests that all that is needed to overcome an addiction is for the addict to try harder, pull themselves together and sort themselves out. But the experience of countless addicts exposes the lie of this kind of thinking. The first step in the famous Twelve Step Programme of Alcoholics Anonymous requires the alcoholic to acknowledge that he or she is powerless against their addiction.

This is where the metaphor of demon-possession, provocative as it is, can be a helpful one to gain greater insight and compassion into the plight of the addict. Please note, I’m not for a moment suggesting that addicts are literally demon-possessed – that would be a hurtful and false conclusion to draw. But it is a metaphor that points to the fact that a sinister power is at work, with hugely destructive potential, and that the addict needs help from beyond him or herself in order to deal with it. Indeed, it’s a metaphor that suggest that only the Highest Power – God – is able to deal with the demons of addiction that rage within us.

As this demoniac in Mark 5 steps forward, can you recognize in him a reflection of your addicted self that you are powerless to control? May this recognition bring you to your knees before the only One with sufficient grace and power to set you free.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Lord, it’s tough to admit it, but there are destructive patterns of thinking and behaving that I continue to return to over and over again. I do not understand why this is so, but I recognize in these repeating patterns the telltale signs of addiction. The further agonizing truth is that try as I might, I am in fact powerless to deal with these things that have me by the throat and are slowly squeezing the life out of me. Help me, please! I need you! Amen.