"Welcome to Addicts Anonymous" began a talk I went to at New Wine this year. The speaker, Kenny Borthwick, believes that we are all deeply addicted if we are outside the love of God. I found his words very challenging and illuminating, so I would like to share some of them with you this week.
Kenny is not just talking about addictions to drugs and alcohol, but also those things that society might deem as acceptable – comfort foods, purchases, relationships that look for a love or affirmation in people that can only truly be filled by God.
According to author Don Williams, the anatomy of addiction is as follows. You are alone at home feeling low, and there is chocolate cake in the fridge. You have good memories as your mother told you she loved you as she gave you a slice of cake as a child. As you take a slice you feel comforted, but the sugar effect wears off, and craving kicks in. So you take another piece and another until the whole cake is gone. There is control loss. You want more, and know where you can get particularly good chocolate cake in town, and you are willing to pay the price. In other words, you get your suppliers in place. The cravings have given way to full-blown addiction. You have lost your freedom.
Do we know that we are loved, loved, loved, and not only loved but lovely in the eyes of God? He deeply appreciates us, and has a warm affectionate love for us. Grace seems to be a subject that we have to go over again and again and again until we get it. Until we do, other comforts and affirmations will take God's place.
Jon Seaton
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