Houston, We Have a Problem
[This is part of a series on addiction from the perspective of one who loves the addict, not the addict him/herself.]
Apollo 13 is the NASA mission where an oxygen tank exploded on the way to the moon. The famous quote from this disaster is "Houston, we have a problem." This phrase is one we often use to indicate a serious problem that requires immediate attention.
When we become aware of the addiction of someone we love, we have a problem. It's serious, and it requires immediate attention. How we handle that problem matters. Unfortunately, there is not a guaranteed one-size-fits-all solution. In the movie Apollo 13, Mission Control in Houston works with the astronauts to find a solution. They try a lot of different things before they find the solution that will bring them home.
Turbulence Ahead
This is the beginning of a series on addiction. But it isn't about addicts; it is for those who love them. When a family member or friend is addicted, there is a great spiritual battle happening, not just in their life, but in the lives of those around them.
Call to Order
I grew up in a large family with 11 kids. Our house was usually a mess. It didn't matter which room you were in – It was cluttered and disorganized. Every room but one. Kathy's room was the exception. My room was a disaster. Clothes on the floor – both clean and dirty – papers, books, shoes. I was a slob. But Kathy, who had the smallest room, kept it spotless. Uncluttered. Organized. Everything in its place. Perfectly ordered.
Many decades later, Kathy is still the one with the most orderly home. I am not as much of a slob as I was as a teenager, but there are pockets in my home that are very disordered. As a matter of fact, one of my Lenten practices is to get things ordered in my home. One small space at a time.
So this Lent, one of my goals is to have less disorder in my life. And even though I am focused on the disorder of my living space, I realize that I have disorder in my spiritual life as well. Maybe, by being more disciplined in my home, I can b
What's Your Plan
Have you ever read a book or listened to a homily or podcast, and thought, "That's good stuff! I need to do that." And then you set it aside, and before you know it, two months have gone by, and you've forgotten all about it.
It reminds me of the story of Paul in Athens in Acts chapter 17. He's preaching in the Areopagus and he's killing it. He's really connecting, and many people are engaged in the conversation. At the end, some mocked him, some joined him and believed, and others said, "We will hear you again about this." It was interesting to them, but they were not moved to do anything.
I can relate. I hear things and agree. I may even be convicted that it's important for me, but unless I make a plan to do something with that information, there will be no change.
Wait! There's More!
If you watch an infomercial, at some point you'll hear, "Wait, there's more!" They tell you all about a great product that will solve your problems, but maybe you aren't sold on it yet. So wait! There's more!
Healing resources are like that. I've already covered nine in the last few posts. But there are more! God really wants us to experience His healing power, and so He offers us an abundance of resources to help. Here are five more to add to the ones already addressed.