Sponsored by: First Church of Christ, Scientist – South Lake Tahoe

Talk That Inspire

BLOG

Drug Crisis, Addiction and Healing

by | May 17, 2019 | Talks that Inspire

From The National Institute on Drug Abuse:

“Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relieversheroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total “economic burden” of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.

Overwhelming? Heartbreaking? A major societal problem? Yes, to all of the fore mentioned. If 47,000 Americans dying from opioid overdose in 2017 doesn’t pull on your heart, how about rising rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome in babies? These tiny humans, who will be our future neighbors and community members, did not ask to enter the world addicted and in pain. With such a seemingly insurmountable crisis, where do we even start to help?

As students of Christian Science we can help by affirming the scientifically Christian fact that there is only one Mind, God, who is the one and only cause and is governing us all in perfect order and harmony. We recognize that the drug addicts are no different than us; we all have God-given integrity and we are all a reflection of God, as perfect, divine Love. Referring to God as divine Love, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science wrote: “Love never loses sight of loveliness. Its halo rests upon its object.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures)

When we embrace and understand that the halo of infinite Love’s approval is resting upon us all, we understand that addiction does not take away our spiritual right to be healed and whole. As Mrs. Eddy also wrote, “By the love of God we can cancel error in our own hearts, and blot it out of others.” (No and Yes) For those who see themselves trapped in addiction we can stand in the gap for them, confidently praying and seeing them healed.

As the poet, author and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, told The Christian Science Monitor in 1993, “As soon as healing takes place, go out and heal somebody else.” We can embrace our neighbors, all of our neighbors, prayerfully in Christly love; it this love that heals. Through this principal we can all help. “Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.” (Science and Health) If we commit to love and care in this way, we can…no, we will, be a part of the solution.

Join us on May 25th at the Beach Retreat and Lodge in South Lake Tahoe for a free summit where we will explore more healing solutions to life’s challenges. Go to talksthatinspire.org for information on the speakers, topics and an opportunity to register.

You May Also Like

Spiritual Summit: Healing Solutions to Life’s Challenges

Spiritual Summit: Healing Solutions to Life’s Challenges

This year’s Spiritual Summit: Healing Solutions to Life’s Challenges, invites all to explore how a spiritual perspective can bring healing to physical, mental, relational and world issues. The summit will challenge the notion of the inevitability of disease, aging, and decline, offering instead a viewpoint grounded in the teachings of the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science.

Overcoming Fear with Spiritual Understanding

Overcoming Fear with Spiritual Understanding

Fear is something we’ve all felt—whether it’s nervousness before a job interview, anxiety about a health concern, or even just that vague unease about the future. What if fear isn’t something we have to manage, but something we can actually overcome?

Christian Science teaches that fear isn’t a power—it’s a misconception. It comes from misunderstanding who we truly are and what governs our lives. When we gain spiritual understanding—when we begin to see ourselves and the world through God’s eyes—fear loses its grip. That’s because fear thrives in darkness, but spiritual understanding shines a light.

Youth and Spiritual Healing: Embracing Truth in Early Life

Youth and Spiritual Healing: Embracing Truth in Early Life

There’s something especially powerful about discovering spiritual truth when you’re young. Youth naturally comes with curiosity, openness, and a desire to make sense of life. When young people begin to understand the divine laws of healing taught in Christian Science, they gain more than just tools for tackling challenges—they begin to see themselves and others as God made them: whole, loved, and spiritual.