Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

Lectionary: 177

"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"

I have been reading Ben Westhoff's 2019 book, Fentanyl, Inc, about the latest and worse epidemic to hit the United States and the world. Fentanyl, or one of its innumerable derivatives, is what they use to put elephants and rhinoceros to sleep. 

The book, so far, presents a history of recent research, development, use and abuse of opioid chemicals. The author apparently never used these; he was content to experiment with the LSD of an earlier generation. 

Though I am only a third of the way through the book, I don't suppose the author will explain why so many people want to mess with the human brain, the most amazing and beautiful creation in all God's universe. I know that many individuals, through no fault of their own, suffer illnesses of the brain; and that some of these wonder drugs can help them. But nothing good comes of the crossover, when criminals copy and market both pure and adulterated substances to recreational users. Neither the sick, nor science, nor society at large is served. 

In the hospital ministry I have met some patients who continually return to alcohol and drugs, persuaded that this time they can control the ill effects and avoid another crash. Of course, I only meet them -- time after time -- after the crash, in the hospital. In some cases, they tell me, they were successful for so many days, perhaps weeks. And then something happened, a moment of carelessness, and "Here I am again, same old same old." 

I frankly don't get it. Especially when they know that many others have found contentment in surrender to the Lord. In AA and NA thousands have "turned their life and will over to the care of God" and learned to live reasonably happy, productive lives. 

Of course there are reasons for their continual attempts to find pleasure in chemistry. And many have been explained to me. But they're not persuasive reasons. They're just stupid. 

During the Christmas Cycle, including both Advent and Christmas, we celebrate the Coming of Our Savior. The first association of Christmas is with Jesus but we should remember that the Holy Spirit is Our Savior also. We ask God to send us the Spirit, and right now we need the Holy Spirit to save us from fentanyl, opioids, opiates, and all that other stuff. 

We need the Holy Spirit to tell us why we should be sober and alert. Many of us do not realize how beautiful and precious we are in God's sight. We can't even imagine how beautiful we are to each other, which should be at least as obvious. Many of us think we are disposable trash and good for nothing but a moment's pleasure.  That horror will not relieved by Christmas shopping and stocking stuffers. (It's still stuff.) It will not be satisfied with the post-holiday blues. 

We must ask, and prepare, for the Spirit that is easily satisfied with a drink of plain water, with a simple meal, with routine prayer, with a job well done, and with the companionship of loved ones, especially during these long winter months when the climate offers so little comfort. 

We Christians enjoy a privilege infinitely more satisfying than anything the chemistry industry can offer or imagine. We should enjoy it; we should tell others about it. Some of them are dying.