The Lord sets prisoners free and gives sight to the blind

The Lord lifts those who have fallen.

 –Psalm 146:7-8

O freedom. O freedom. O freedom over me

And before I’ll be a slave, I’ll be buried in my grave.

And go home to my Lord and be free.

(African American Spiritual)

If anyone knew about slavery it was those who had been wrenched away from their homes in Africa and sold in this country beginning in the year 1601. And when they were freed from slavery after the War Between the States, the joy of freedom was almost boundless. That’s not to say that they didn’t continue to experience rejection, segregation and continuing efforts to establish their civil rights. They did and still do.

The daily battle of the slaves to establish their freedom is not unlike the battle that addicts experience as they live out their recovery “One Day at a Time”. The slavery of addiction is a terribly debilitating thing and, because it is a terminal illness, people die in its chains, miserably often with no one to care for them.

We are in the midst of a pandemic that is killing people by the thousands. But just as deadly, if not more so, is the disease of addiction which has killed people in the thousands and the tens of thousands over many more years than the current pandemic has been with us. This is particularly true of the addiction to opioids in recent years.

The Center of Addiction and Faith is a force arising to counter this terrible disease. And, we can give thanks to the God of our understanding that this can and will be a force which will bring about the healing of many.

Prayer: God who lifts and heals those who have been enslaved in any way, continue to extend your loving hand of healing to all of us who are in need of freedom. And bless us as we go on our way of recovery, whatever form that may take. Amen.