“After twenty years of listening to the yearnings of people’s hearts, I am convinced that all human beings have an inborn desire for God,” is the introductory sentence of Gerald G. May’s book, “Addiction and Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions,” which sets the pace for the rest of the pages.

“Addiction and Grace: Love and Spirituality…” deals partly with the existential crisis that addiction conflicts upon the individual, as well as, the process of recognizing attachment to the addiction and learning how to let go of it through the practice of spirituality.

Gerald G. May, however, does not solely focus on narcotic and alcohol addiction but rather on the spectrum of addiction, including sex addiction and an addiction to working also.  May, who has treated chemical addiction for years in the field of psychiatry, asserts that addiction can be viewed as an attempt, on the individual’s part, to control his/her environment.   After reading several reviews by recovering addicts that praise May’s approach in “Addiction and Grace…,” it is clear to see that the practice of contemplative spirituality plays a crucial role in opening the eyes of individuals who live with addiction in their lives.

Sobriety: Personal Goal – Shared Mission

I tried to quit drinking so many times I can’t even keep count. I used to go to the library near where I was living and get all kinds of books on daily alanon that claimed they could cure me of my addiction. Short simple titles like Getting Sober and Your Last Drink gave me a false feeling of confidence that I could do it all on my own and it would be quick and painless.

Now I am finally getting the real help I have always needed. It’s my personal goal to stay sober, but I can see clearly that the mission of accomplishing that goal is one that requires a whole team to do successfully. Faith in a higher power is an important part of it, but a sponsor, a councilor… people who have been where I am and know how to get where I want to go to – you can’t pull that out of a book on your own. I’ll never forget, one time I was high reading a self-help book on addiction and I actually used my rolling papers and matchbook as a bookmark to save my place in the chapter right before I passed out!

Stop worrying about how hard is might be, or what might happen after you kick your habits. What you need to know is that the scary journey toward sobriety is one YOU can make in the company of people who care about you as deeply as they do themselves. You will never be cured, life just aint like that… but you can be sober, you can be free of the symptoms that come with your disease and with God’s mercy, you can start to heal the wounds that your history has caused for yourself and those you love. Peace~