by Melvin Rhodes
A good friend of mine is a recovering alcoholic.
That means he recognizes he has a major problem with alcohol and that he can never have another drink. He has not had a drink for over six years now.
He attends AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) three times a week. To some, this may seem like an addiction in itself, but he knows he needs the support of others sharing the same struggle.
It's the struggle of a lifetime, meaning that he will still be dealing with it 10, 20 and 30 years from now. This is the cross he has to bear in this life. As Jesus Christ said to His disciples: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). It really is a daily struggle for him and countless others, but the rewards for staying dry and achieving personal growth are fabulous.
Christians have their personal struggles, just like anybody else. But the real followers of Jesus Christ, those who give more than lip service to being a Christian, know that they cannot give up--they cannot give in to the trials and temptations of this life. True Christians must be dedicated to both the principle of Ecclesiastes 9:10--"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might," and to heartfelt believing prayer as they continually rely on God for His help. Both the rewards in this life and the reward of eternal life are given "to him who overcomes" (Revelation 2:7; 21:7).
Regarding addictions, the word "overcomes" refers to an ongoing journey rather than a final destination. Most addicts will never get to the point where he is completely free of any temptation to relapse. But every day that the addict stays dry or clean is another victory--another day when his enemy was not allowed to get the best of him. That explains why the term "recovering alcoholic" is accurate while the term "recovered alcoholic" is not accurate.
Many Christians struggle with alcoholism. Whether the addiction is chemical or due to social and environmental factors, or both, an alcoholic must learn to live with it, cope with it and daily overcome it.
Denial is a critical problem. It can take many years for a struggler to come to the point of recognizing his or her alcoholism—and many never do. How often have you heard people say: "I can stop drinking any time I want!"
Alcoholism is a dangerous addiction—dangerous for the alcoholic who can die from his weakness and dangerous for others who may be the victims of a drunk driver. There is also a great deal of daily suffering for relatives of the alcoholic. Those closest to the alcoholic find their lives dominated by the problem. Yet often it remains the proverbial "elephant in the room," something no one wants to talk about.
Friends and relatives are absolutely crucial to helping an alcoholic. When there is absolute denial that can go on for years, an "intervention" is recommended, where family and friends come together with the alcoholic to confront him with the reality of his problem and how it is negatively affecting everybody. Often this will be the turning point when the alcoholic will begin to seek help.
My friend remembers some years ago sitting in a bar about 75 miles away from his home. The next thing he remembers was waking up in a parking lot near his home. He remembers nothing of the journey in between. He had blacked out, and not for the first time. But this time he realized the full seriousness of his alcoholism. Married with two children, he was determined never to drink again. With the support of family and friends, he has been able to keep his commitment.
Support from others is essential. Without encouragement from those he loves, an addict will usually lack the strong motivation he will need to make a strong commitment.
Alcoholism is just one of many afflictions that we address in Breaking Free. We are dedicated to helping as many people as possible achieve a healthy, responisible and successful life just as my good friend did.
One way you can show your support of family members and friends who struggle with addictions is to write an article for Breaking Free, sharing your story with others so that they can benefit and be encouraged. Articles should be e-mailed to don_hooser@ucg.org.