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TRUTH
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
Proverbs 1:10
REFLECTION
Yes, I’d probably jump off that cliff if everyone else were doing it.
The draw of acceptance, even to the wrong crowd, is more powerful than my flimsy conscience.
This is not the entire reason I started down the path of addiction by dabbling with alcohol, but it was a much stronger piece than I realized at the time.
The friends we bond with, even the casual ones, hold a power over us.
If we aren’t careful and discerning, the wrong friends can begin to wield that power whether they even realize it or not.
At the first glimpses of acceptance into circles I once thought were off limits, I was enticed.
I wasn’t friendless before, but the taboo always wins out if we fuel it with curiosity.
Other things began to seem dull. Other friends seemed boring. Other activities seemed colorless.
And here’s the thing: if we could turn back at the first signs of trouble, a lot of pain might be avoided.
But when those signs popped up for me, I was too enthralled with the false promises of drinking and using to give them much mind.
I can’t overstate how dangerous it was to start messing around with alcohol as a teenager.
My mind was in the unstable hyper-growth that everyone must go through, and I doused it with substances that stunted the growth and killed my ability to be reasoned with.
The timeless advice of walking away from these temptations at the forefront still rings true. It is the best way to avoid the pain.
God, draw me to good friends.
NEXT
When you’re ready, here are some tools for you:
Book List (amazon link)
Some of my favorite reads related to recovery and/or wrestling with faith.4th Step Guide (free download)
A PDF with instructions and worksheets for a thorough 4th step. Straight from the Big Book. Fearlessness not included.12-Step Christianity (YouTube)
My thoughts on the parallels between discipleship and sponsorship.
KEEP LEANING FORWARD
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