PERSPECTIVES ON HOPE
PERSPECTIVES ON HOPE
Mary Cook, M.A., R.A.S.
The 23rd Psalm in the Bible offers hope, solace and wisdom. The active addicts’ rendition of this psalm is a different story. I offer you both here.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Drugs are my God. They give me all that I need.
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside still waters.”
I crash after a good drug run. This forces me to be still for a while.
“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Drugs replace my soul and lead me in the paths of self-righteousness.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Even though I risk my life and the lives of others, I will not fear this evil, for drugs protect and comfort me.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
Drugs bring demons to my table. Yet I am anointed with the oil of insanity as my cup of cravings and character defects runs over.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Surely trouble and misery shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of incomprehensible demoralization forever.
In active addiction, we hope that our will, will be done. We hope to get enough drugs, and hope that nothing interferes with that. We hope to be spared from the consequences of our own actions and decisions, and avoid responsibility and accountability. We hope that drugs continue to deliver false euphoria and numb our pain.
Addiction is an escalating cycle of fear and resistance against ourselves, others and life. It perpetuates the most negative human experiences and denies divine heritage. The goal of addiction is to avoid pain and capture pleasure. This is an impossible task. We are not here to chase after sensory gratification, compete for personal glorification, rush around with overwhelming lists of responsibilities, take our hurt, anger and confusion out on others, make others responsible for our well being, nor escape from reality. We can’t avoid pain. Pain is an integral and valuable part of life’s teachings. We can’t capture pleasure, because everything is meant to change. We can’t attract outside positive change until we identify and surrender what blocks internal positive energy.
We typically require both hope and pain in order to change. We must finally see the pain of how we have been living, and courageously admit that we are the culprit. Hope comes from the acceptance and warm embraces of the fellowship, and from listening to people who have walked our path and now enjoy a better life. Hope comes when we hear powerful truths that resonate deep inside us. Hope comes when the famine of a closed heart meets patient and compassionate caring. Hope is where the prison of guilt and shame faces forgiveness and living amends, and where the burden of bitterness and entitlement transforms into helpfulness and humility.
In active recovery, we hope to become willing, open-minded and honest. We hope to relinquish cravings and compulsions, self-destructiveness and sabotage. We hope to surrender character defects and defense mechanisms. We hope for healing and understanding. We hope to become productive members of society. We hope to develop healthy relationships with others and accept life on life’s terms. We hope to practice spiritual principles and transform problems into solutions, and pain into learning and growth. We hope to reclaim our soul and our God and hold them precious in our hearts. We hope to cultivate daily conscious contact with our Higher Power and follow divine will. We hope to serve others with gratitude and joy. We hope to be no less than all that we were created to be.
God does meet our needs and encourages us to rest and reflect upon this knowing. God guides us toward our soul purpose when we are willing. Loss and death are not evil, because things of this earth are temporal, while things of Heaven are eternal. When we face our enemies, (whether internal or external), God wishes to remind us that we are spiritual beings, filled with His abundant love. When we remember this, there is goodness and mercy in every day and we are eternally blessed.
Emily Dickinson said: “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in our soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all….” She reminds us that hope is not a mere feeling or thought, but powerful, positive, unstoppable action, that was created within us, is stimulated through our conscious connection with God, and is meant to be shared with everyone and everything. Hope constantly gives and is constantly full. Hope is not bound to time, space, distance or any other conditions, for it resides in the soul. Hope bypasses conscious thought and sings straight from the source. We all have this source within us. Let us all celebrate and demonstrate hope today.
WWW.MARYCOOKMA.COM Mary Cook has a Master’s degree in psychology and is a registered addiction specialist, with over 33 years of clinical practice and 29 years of University teaching experience. She is a writer, a national speaker, and has a private practice in San Pedro, CA. Mary is available for telephone and office counseling, consulting, guided meditation, speaking engagements and in-service training. Her book “Grace Lost and Found” will be available by March 1, 2010. Please see website for further information. Contact her at 310-517-0825.
Mary Cook, M.A., R.A.S.
The 23rd Psalm in the Bible offers hope, solace and wisdom. The active addicts’ rendition of this psalm is a different story. I offer you both here.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Drugs are my God. They give me all that I need.
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside still waters.”
I crash after a good drug run. This forces me to be still for a while.
“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Drugs replace my soul and lead me in the paths of self-righteousness.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Even though I risk my life and the lives of others, I will not fear this evil, for drugs protect and comfort me.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
Drugs bring demons to my table. Yet I am anointed with the oil of insanity as my cup of cravings and character defects runs over.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Surely trouble and misery shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of incomprehensible demoralization forever.
In active addiction, we hope that our will, will be done. We hope to get enough drugs, and hope that nothing interferes with that. We hope to be spared from the consequences of our own actions and decisions, and avoid responsibility and accountability. We hope that drugs continue to deliver false euphoria and numb our pain.
Addiction is an escalating cycle of fear and resistance against ourselves, others and life. It perpetuates the most negative human experiences and denies divine heritage. The goal of addiction is to avoid pain and capture pleasure. This is an impossible task. We are not here to chase after sensory gratification, compete for personal glorification, rush around with overwhelming lists of responsibilities, take our hurt, anger and confusion out on others, make others responsible for our well being, nor escape from reality. We can’t avoid pain. Pain is an integral and valuable part of life’s teachings. We can’t capture pleasure, because everything is meant to change. We can’t attract outside positive change until we identify and surrender what blocks internal positive energy.
We typically require both hope and pain in order to change. We must finally see the pain of how we have been living, and courageously admit that we are the culprit. Hope comes from the acceptance and warm embraces of the fellowship, and from listening to people who have walked our path and now enjoy a better life. Hope comes when we hear powerful truths that resonate deep inside us. Hope comes when the famine of a closed heart meets patient and compassionate caring. Hope is where the prison of guilt and shame faces forgiveness and living amends, and where the burden of bitterness and entitlement transforms into helpfulness and humility.
In active recovery, we hope to become willing, open-minded and honest. We hope to relinquish cravings and compulsions, self-destructiveness and sabotage. We hope to surrender character defects and defense mechanisms. We hope for healing and understanding. We hope to become productive members of society. We hope to develop healthy relationships with others and accept life on life’s terms. We hope to practice spiritual principles and transform problems into solutions, and pain into learning and growth. We hope to reclaim our soul and our God and hold them precious in our hearts. We hope to cultivate daily conscious contact with our Higher Power and follow divine will. We hope to serve others with gratitude and joy. We hope to be no less than all that we were created to be.
God does meet our needs and encourages us to rest and reflect upon this knowing. God guides us toward our soul purpose when we are willing. Loss and death are not evil, because things of this earth are temporal, while things of Heaven are eternal. When we face our enemies, (whether internal or external), God wishes to remind us that we are spiritual beings, filled with His abundant love. When we remember this, there is goodness and mercy in every day and we are eternally blessed.
Emily Dickinson said: “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in our soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all….” She reminds us that hope is not a mere feeling or thought, but powerful, positive, unstoppable action, that was created within us, is stimulated through our conscious connection with God, and is meant to be shared with everyone and everything. Hope constantly gives and is constantly full. Hope is not bound to time, space, distance or any other conditions, for it resides in the soul. Hope bypasses conscious thought and sings straight from the source. We all have this source within us. Let us all celebrate and demonstrate hope today.
WWW.MARYCOOKMA.COM Mary Cook has a Master’s degree in psychology and is a registered addiction specialist, with over 33 years of clinical practice and 29 years of University teaching experience. She is a writer, a national speaker, and has a private practice in San Pedro, CA. Mary is available for telephone and office counseling, consulting, guided meditation, speaking engagements and in-service training. Her book “Grace Lost and Found” will be available by March 1, 2010. Please see website for further information. Contact her at 310-517-0825.
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