I have addictions and I am progressing
slowly. I don’t blame it my addictions. My addictions have more to
do with going after life’s pleasures. But, I always keep these pleasures
within the bounds the Lord has set. That seems to appropriate.
Perhaps my addictions are really what Adam Miller calls, in his Romans
paraphrase, “While we were still weak – fearful, unfaithful, and numb to everything but our favorite
distractions – Jesus sacrificed His life for our behalf”. Romans 5, third paragraph.
I do go after my favorite distractions (talking about spiritual things, reading
spiritual texts, enjoying intimacy, socializing with the guys, playing
racquetball, eating chocolate, watching my favorite TV shows and movies,
reading Abraham Lincoln books and teaching the gospel. These are my
distractions. Some are good and some not so good. I do like some
sugar each day. Addiction! My hormones turn on every three or four
days. Addiction! But, I try to put this stuff in perspective –
within the bounds the Lord has set. Good food is a good bounds.
Learning to surrender to comments of others that I perceive to be threatening,
permitting myself to feel diminished, not permitting my ego to control me,
looking at the trigger with gentle curiosity,- I believe is at the essence of
overcoming the mother of all sins and natural man – Shame.
Scott
