| Many have noticed the derisive attitudes and comments about the year 2020. Few are regretting an end to this tumultuous year. With Covid 19 protocols and messaging constantly changing, political upheavals, and personal disruptions continuing, many are anxious to turn the page and see better days. Sometimes we do well to turn a complaint into a prayer. As in:”Many are saying, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.” Psalm 4:6
For those of us in the recovering community, these days have brought challenges. Getting out of isolation and away from screen time has required deeper intention. Connecting with others face to face has been more necessary than ever. Attending meetings for many has been a mixture of phone ins, Zoom meetings and more recently the return of in person gatherings. Two things are abundantly clear on the “problem” side. First, the numbers of people of all ages and sexes addicted to lust and internet porn are accelerating. Secondly, churches, with some notable exceptions, are still not opening the the subject of lust recovery to discussion, gospel messaging, and practical ministry. As a result, many experience little hope that their faith can address this life-long problem. To make matters worse, during Covid, some on the edges have dropped out or succumbed to more isolating obsessions. We pray for better days for them. May we give them a warm welcome back when they walk through our doors. The good news is that there have never been more resources to meet this challenge than right now! From workshops, to 12 Step groups to Christian therapists sometimes devoting their entire practices to lust related issues, many healing professionals are rising to the challenge and providing help and hope to individuals and families caught in the web of addiction. We can help connect you. Please reach out to us (contact info below) for yourself or for those you love. At times like this we must remember more than ever that we recover together or not at all. “Lone wolf” recovery does not work any more than “lone wolf” Christianity does. Many try to “quit” all by themselves for decades until realizing it was never meant to work that way and that a large part of healing comes from “being known.” An “isolating obsession with sex and self” can never bring us the kind of connection Jesus offers us, one with both deep affirmation and open ended possibilities. Perhaps this Advent and Christmas season can begin to launch us into a new way of relating, one of kindness, generosity and purpose. No matter what we must face in 2021, we can be kind and gentle with ourselves and others. We can slow down and listen to each other, helping each other toward more whole and integrated lives throughout 2021. The Bible tells us in numerous places that it didn’t come to stay. It came to pass. So shall eventually pass the disrupted world of 2020, no doubt to be replaced by newer challenges. May each of us take the time this Advent season to be spiritually prepared for the world that awaits us, remaining together in fellowship as we walk into the future God holds in the palm of his hand. In the Lust-Bearer, Jay Haug
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