Problem or Symptom? Meditation for 7/2/14

Georgetown SC

“There are only two things I do not like.  The way things are and change.”  - Anon

“Just because you got the monkey off your back does not mean the circus left town.”  - George Carlin

     When we have discomfort in ourselves, our instinct often is to seek an escape rather than to identify and deal with the root cause of the problem.  We need something more powerful than ourselves that can make us feel different – if we were able to make ourselves feel different we would, and we would not need the distraction.  So we try to engage in something strong enough that it will either numb the pain or distract us enough that we don’t feel the pain anymore.  We use nicotine, sex, alcohol, prescription drugs, illegal drugs, sugar, caffeine, relationships, money, power, adrenaline or any of many other things as a distraction– the list is long.  Our problem is compounded because over time it takes more of whatever we are indulging in to accomplish the level of distraction we need.  Because of this, peripheral problems develop to the point that it becomes confusing as to what the underlying problem actually is.  If we are using a numbing agent, there may be physical withdrawals from the addiction that pose another problem.  But even if we can overcome them the defects within us are unaddressed and the desire – the obsession – for a distraction will remain.  If we do not identify and correct the underlying problem we will be miserable, we will replace the distraction with a new one, or we will return to it like a dog to its vomit.      

     Often, when we have a moment of clarity all we can see is the addiction – we do not realize the underlying and have no idea that when we stop engaging in the negative behavior the true issue is waiting to pounce on us.  And the core problem, left to fester, is now far worse than it was when we sought relief from it to start with.  We are operating under the false assumption that when we overcome the addiction we will be “fine.”  How can we hope to break the grip of an addiction that permeates us to the core, and in this weakened state even begin to address the true issues?  We must have a power greater than ourselves that will not turn on us and itself become yet another problem. 

     Of course the most difficult part of breaking the cycle is getting started – becoming aware of the problem, becoming willing to try to surrender to a benevolent spirit and taking the actions necessary to move forward.  Taking this on is overwhelming to start with – it is so tempting to once again seek some temporary relief and thus further worsen the problem.         This is misery – and in life misery is optional.  If we can just attune to the spirit and stay in positive action long enough the pains of change and growth subside and soon pale in comparison to the new freedom we know.  And ultimately we come to know that all along the true problem was that we were separated from the spirit in the first place.

Today, may I recognize the difference between a symptom and a problem.

Happy Wednesday!!

David

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