Dealing with addiction is not a game of skill. Coping with addiction is a test of courage in seeking the truth.
The game of Pick Up Sticks reminds me of my failed attempts to unravel another person’s clutter while denying my own faults. Including trying to sort out the self-deception that was clustered and zigzagged one on top of another.
In families where addictive behavior rules, getting a handle on what’s real is a challenge. There is no way to pick, pull, or lift one dysfunctional episode to get to the truth without shifting the whole pile.
The entire family dynamics come into play. Everyone is affected. Denial is a game no one wins.
But here’s the good news.
Included in the game of Pick Up Sticks is a “helper” stick. Players use this “helper” to lift and remove a selected stick from the pile. That “helper” stick is not exclusive. It is available to all.
Where to go to find your “Helper” stick? I found my spiritual Helper in a Higher Power I call Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And in Al-Anon, CoDA, and Celebrate Recovery meeting rooms.
There is a Helper in AA, NA, Addictions Victorious, and other 12-Step programs. Regardless of the support group you attend, the first step to winning is admitting the truth. And the truth shall set you free of the burdens of lies.
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth (John 14:16-17 NASB).
cxoxoxox
