Things often appear at first glance only one way but are usually experiencing dynamics wrapped within larger systems.

Dualities appear everywhere.

Take alcoholism, for example. On the surface, it appears to be about a physical ailment. And it certainly is a physical and physiological problem. When drinking alcohol, the addiction can grow until it destroys the liver and kills the alcoholic.

Stop drinking, and the brain and body heal.

Exercise, a growing body of research shows, helps in recovery.

But alcoholism is also a spiritual problem.

However, one can argue alcoholism is fundamentally a spiritual problem. Drinking is fueled by trauma and sustained by selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, fear, and shame.

These are both physical and spiritual dynamics.

You can stop drinking, but you will switch addictions if your soul is not profoundly transformed.

Only giving up the old way of living will lead to transformation. But this sacrifice, this ^^narrow way^^ of abstinence, only flourishes when done for the sake of joy. There is a truth to the saying that recovery works, not when you need it, but when you want it.

Because whatever we want grows.

Desperate longing for change. Digging deep to see God beneath the surface-level actions. Saying yes to your deepest desires and finding the treasure.

All of this only comes when we sell all we have with joy.

We can only make such a sacrifice in light of discovering the incredible gift of grace, love, and union with God.

Without joyful surrender, your end will be destruction.

Quotes

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.
Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!"

Jesus, in Matthew 13:44-46

"Many of life's treasures remain hidden from us simply because we never search for them. Often we do not ask the proper questions that might lead us to the answer to all our challenges. We are so caught up in fear and regret, that hope seems a foolish endeavor. Proof of hope, however, is not only possible, it is an overlooked law of the universe."

Andy Andrews, The Noticer

Questions

What are you addicted to? What is in control of you?

My musings above beg the question: Do you comprehend the gift of grace? Do you understand Jesus's parables? Have you sold all you have for the Kingdom?

Endnote

Only total surrender and complete abandon to God will do.

Live wisely,

Josh

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