THE EDGE OF NOWHERE!
Sunday’s Monday
How many people today can honestly say that they have traveled to the edge of nowhere? Some will not have a clue as to what I am referring to while others will say it’s physically not possible, nowhere doesn’t exist. But then, there are those like me who have been to the very edge of somewhere and peered out into the deep dark vastness of nowhere. Glaring upon the emptiness of nothingness while pondering on how impractical and worthless life really is. Just like millions upon millions of people I have been forced to step off this edge to live, die or repeat the process. I failed miserably time after time and it was not from a lack of trying, mine was always not knowing the next step and choosing to repeat the process.
Here is a short synopsis that I created to help me understand victims such as me. I ask, have you ever stood over a proverbial bottomless pit, and in spite of everything in you saying do not scream into this pit, you did! Then listened for the echo to return and it did over and over getting, ever so faint with each repeat until it was no more. This is quite normal except for people like me who immediately get hit with the thought, did it hit bottom and stop, or does my echo continue falling for all eternity and I simply can no longer hear it? Many addicted / inflicted people who can’t visualize the end of a situation become frightened and disoriented and die (from something self-inflicted) within that emptiness. As is written in Job 15:31-32 (NLT), 31 Let them no longer fool themselves by trusting in empty riches, for emptiness will be their only reward. 32 They will be cut down in the prime of life; their branches will never again be green.
As a society, we have learned to appease ourselves and the God we’ve created by doing the easy stuff. We have built and staffed facilities to rehabilitate these victims. The truth is man’s system is deigned on the principle of recycling. Victims complete man’s program and are sent from the safety of treatment into a world that doesn’t understand addiction, and again failure becomes the victim’s only option. At which point (if they’re fortunate) they return and repeat the process, or they die empty, confused, and scared. I promise you! You don’t know scared and lonely until you are mentally in the middle of this endless darkness with no one to reach out to and your life has no value. Being accepted somewhere you don’t want to be is better than being alone in nowhere. At least inside somewhere, you can see and know where you are. Luke 11:24 (NLT), “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ The evil spirit of addiction will return unless it has been replaced with the more desirable feelings of trust and security. As my late pastor always said; “you will become like those you hang with; the choice is completely yours!” We need to offer an atmosphere (lifestyle) of concern and safety to start the restoration process to a relationship of trust. We are the people to reach out and lead them to those that live the desirable life. Ergo, they learn to build new memories over old, while growing stronger day by day. Remember, few if any had youthful dreams of becoming what they’ve turned out to be.
Unfortunately, many of you will miss my point because that is where we’re at in today’s society and it is worldwide. There have been wars on drugs, mental illness, crime, etc. and so little has changed. One reason for this is the general population is not taking things personally. The people inside this nothingness need desperately to see a hand reaching out to pull them into a place where they can learn and relearn how to become that person of self-worth. I was shoved over the edge several times and thank God, He sent someone’s hand for me. I was divinely rescued, which is another story, and gradually taught to be in the world without being of the world. As a pastor friend Tom Early says, “We are a spiritual being on a physical journey rather than a physical being on a spiritual journey. I was blessed to be led to a small church that loved me with a pastor who mentored me. Standing right by my side at every turn, helping me to unbecome what the world had made of me. I came to believe Jeremiah 29:11(NLT), For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Yes! I was shoved off that ledge by the world but lifted out of the abyss by the hand of men who loved God enough to love me! Hallelujah!
Lord, I come to you today with a spirit searching for your wisdom in sharing your strength with those controlled by addiction and blinded to your love. May I live to teach 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT), Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. Our weakness can truly become God’s stronghold once we’ve surrendered all to Him. Amen
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
Check out-------www.sundaysmonday.com------10/16/2022