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 relievers, heroin, 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.
