I read recently about certain ants that have a passion for the sweet glandular
substance given off by the caterpillar of a large blue butterfly. According to
the article, the ants can become so enthralled by the substance they carry the
supplier into their nest with great delight. What they don't realize is that the
caterpillar gorges himself on the ant larva. Usually such a threat would be
attacked by an army of ants and destroyed or repelled. However, because they
enjoy the caterpillar's tasty secretions so much, they become "addicted" to it.
In so doing they are oblivious to the fact that their young are being destroyed!
In reality most of us are addicted to something. It may not be drugs or alcohol,
but anything we habitually or compulsively use or do to avoid facing our inner
unresolved problems (such as fears, hurts, losses, anger, guilt, inadequacies,
etc.), is an addiction. It may be work, religion, gambling, spending, eating,
smoking, relationships, sex or any of a score of other things–some of which can
be very tempting and very enjoyable. Of one thing we can be sure, when our life
is being controlled by addictions, we don't grow and we can damage and even
destroy our children, our closest relationships, and our physical, emotional or
spiritual health.
Besides, an addiction is often a counterfeit of the real thing and when we
settle for the counterfeit we can stop ourselves finding the real. Only when we
are ruthlessly honest with ourselves and admit to God and at least one other
safe person that we are addicted can we get God's help to face the causes behind
our addictions and seek the help we need to overcome them.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
Thanks to Daily Encounter
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