Creatures of habit

Sometimes we think of ourselves as creatures of habit. I'm the worst. For instance, I like Mexican food, but invariably I order just about the same thing no matter which restaurant I go to. And I travel the same basic routes in the community to go places, rarely venturing off what, to me, are the beaten paths. I work best with a schedule, tend to go with the "tried and true" in decision-making, and so on.

There are bad habits and good habits, of course. I have my share of both. But there are some habits that are especially destructive for people, and yet they can't overcome them on their own. Addictions range from cocaine and heroine to tobacco, to over-eating, to sex, to over-work, and many more. Twelve step programs designed to help people with addictions regard it as essential for the person to recognize his/her powerlessness to deal with the problem from their own resources. They need both divine help and professional help. Millions of people are struggling with debilitating addictions, and the cost to themselves, their families, employers and communities is inestimable. The prevalence of alcohol/drug related traffic accidents, of burglaries/robberies/assaults associated with the need for money to service addictions, the blight of organized crime associated with addictions, the weight of this burden on the courts, the penal system and healthcare -- all this underscores the incredible price society is paying.

Sadly, people of faith are not exempt from hurtful addictions, and Christians as well as others have sometimes lost these desperate battles. But they do have a spiritual resource available to them that others do not have. On their own, they cannot kick whatever the habit may be. But in their relationship with Christ, they may be able to find a life-sustaining power that otherwise would not be there.