Lent Day 15

Life Can be stressful sometimes.  Let's be honest if it didn't get stressful there would little need for us to start turning to addictions.  There would be no reason to grab a beer to let off a little steam.  For that matter, to go out for a smoke break between meetings at work.  If the stress of raising kids and making the payments wouldn't make for stress with your spouse and thus the excuse to make a trip to strip bar.  All of this can also be attributed to a need for comfort food.  All that stress is always there.  Usually it's manageable sometimes it's not.  With addiction it seems manageable, but only it's completely unmanageable.  Addiction only makes it worse.

In AA we learn not to turn that stress over to alcohol - but to turn it over to God.  It doesn't go away we just react to it differently.  It doesn't go away we just learn to ask for help.  It doesn't go away we just stop trying to fix it ourselves.

Today's Focus:  Recent technology changes have made gambling much more accessible - and access to the addiction much more easy.  In fact, according to this local TV station, March is now "Problem Gambling Awareness Month."  It's not coincidental that it coincides with the National College (NCAA) Basketball tournament.  The NCAA march madness is associated, according to the American Gaming Association, with some of the highest sports wagering of the year.  The story ends by telling us a Gambling Addiction impacts 8-10 people in the life of the problem gambler.  Showing us further that addicts bring those we love most into the darkness of our addiction.

Today Positive Action:  In the journal you started last week create a list of reasons to grow closer to God.

Dear Lord.  You have the power to heal.  However, you wait for us to be ready to work with You on Your terms.  You wait until we are completely at the end of our rope.  You wait until we realize we have to ask for help before recovery can begin.  Help those addicts that still suffer, that Your word, "Ask and you shall receive," is truth.  Especially those gambling addicts who will suffer and lose money in College Basketball bets this year.  Help those addicts see that all they need to do is ask for help.  Show them that we are praying for them - and that they are special to their family and friends.  Show them that they should be growing their relationships with their family and loved ones - instead of with their addiction, and in this case their gambling.  Show them there is another way to live.  Show them there is a new life with hope and light in Your word.  We are grateful to know this because You brought us out of our addictions and into the hope of Your light.  Help us share that light.  Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.