We all have our little ‘escapes’, our ways to deal with unpleasant realities. Some of us eat too much, drink too much, and self medicate in all kinds of ways to handle our lives. We are trying to avoid the pain which comes with a true assessment of ourselves, our lives, and our relationships. The picture is not very pretty many times so we want to fly the coop and feel better. So we go looking for that which fills the void and dulls the pain.
Somes the escapes are not truly harmful and we get a break from stinking thinking about how our lives have turned out. As we all know what makes us feel better today will not be enough to make us feel better tomorrow. Pain killers lose their potency and effectiveness. We need more comfort, more escape, more pleasure and we need it now.
That is how we slip into addictions and they rule us. The gambling that seemed so innocent is now an obsession and needs more fuel (more cash). The sex chatter we had on the internet now seems less fulfilling and we need some body contact. The drink we had after work not has stretched into three or four and we still are thristy for that deadening thud. The flirting at lunch now has escalated to plans to meet at a hotel at lunch. The occasional hit of cocaine now seems to be what we are craving all day long.
We have these holes in our souls and we try to fill them up and stuff them with things that will do nothing but make the hole deeper. It’s trash, it’s clutter, and it will never plug the hole. You can load up on what you do not need but you cannot put a square peg into a round hole. It it does not fit you must dump it. The fantasies and the secret desires are simply not going to make it. Keep trying and you will just make the hole ache all the more.
It is time for you to stop trying to plug the big hole in your soul with ’stuff’. Give it up. You already know it will not work. Why keep banging your head against the wall? You are searching for true peace and serenity and it can only be found by understanding your purpose on this earth and preparing for the life which is to come after this one on earth.
Jesus understands your dark night of the soul and is sending you messages all the time, asking you to take His hand and let Him help you forgive yourself, forgive others, and serve Him. You can save yourself by helping others understand why their souls are aching and they are so weary of trying to gorge themselves with worldly pleasure.
Junk will kill your body and your soul if you keep stuffing yourself and wanting more. Get real, throw out that which is hurting you, not helping you, and look to what your inner voice is telling you. Only spiritual food will fill that huge hole in your soul. Stop and do some introspection, examine your life, and see what you need to change. Do not worry about trying to change others. They have their own struggles and have their own souls to feed.
It might take a shovel or it might take a backhoe to get rid of all the trash you have loaded into your life so get started today. Remember, we can only work on today and tomorrow because yesterday has passed us by. There may be others around you who do not want you to give up your guilty pleasures but they are not looking out for your tender soul. Hopefully they will understand and support you but if they will not, you may have to rid yourself of them. If they are toxic to your soul, get away fast.
Are you hungy today? Work on changing your habits and routines that have gotten you off the path to the next world. If you go there with dirty hands, dirty hearts, and a dirty soul, you will be turned away as unclean and not worthy to spend eternity with Jesus.