Why is it that so many folks who are not drinking or drugging are still in the grips of “untreated alcoholism?”
Here is a consideration that I heard someone put so well: “Do we have an abnormal reaction to abstinence?”
We become full of fear. We have trouble in personal relationships. We are a prey to misery and depression. We can’t control our emotional nature. We feel useless and don’t feel like we can be of help to others, and in some cases can’t or won’t make a living and if we are we aren’t too thrilled about having to go to work every day.
We become a prey to our thinking, which is never good or spiritual.
Untreated Alcoholism Surfaces in Other Areas of Life
Eventually, an alcoholic will slip into some sort of a spree where the illness will go underground a resurface in other areas of our lives. For example: in the need to get relief from ourselves and our constant stream of bad thinking and stress, we may find ourselves doing more thinking to escape all the thinking. We may find ourselves on sex sprees and develop the hidden sex life. We may find ourselves on an anger spree (and we really don’t know why we are so angry) or a food spree or a money spree and perhaps compulsive spending and or gambling. The point is we are not well and our behavior thoughts and feeling reflect this. Yet, when the solution that being right with God via the 12 steps is presented, many will recoil and even become defensive and defiant. Yes we are a strange lot.
We need to starve that which is being fed and feed that which is being starved. We must get out “soul food” or else go on to the bitter end.
Why wait? Although this may seem morbid, my question is this – Have we thought about our own mortality lately? Do we realize that are days are numbered whether we like it or not. Sitting with and knowing our time is limited and our life is but a vapor perhaps can breathe life and a sense of urgency to walk this journey with a sense or purpose and direction and free. The day will arrive when we will be called “home” and on the day and in that moment it is too late to start doing the steps or go to a meeting.
Let God breathe life into us rather then things or people.
“Seek the kingdom of God and all will be added unto you” as the quote goes.
Blessings,
Peter Marinelli
Chop wood, carry water
