“I am more grateful today for the love and support I experienced this last week from Melissa, my family, my friends, and my community than I am disappointed by the outcome. Recovery is possible by the grace of God, and I am blessed to experience that gift one day at a time.” – Hunter Biden
“As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle addiction understand the feeling of pride seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.” – Joe Biden
This last week an incredibly serious illness that effects over 20 million people in the U.S. and impacts over 10 times that number of people got lost in the polarization of our present political climate.
“Addiction is a chronic (lifelong) condition that involves compulsive seeking and taking of a substance or performing of an activity despite negative or harmful consequences. Addiction can significantly impact your health, relationships and overall quality of life. Addiction is a disease — it’s a chronic condition. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic brain disorder. Addiction doesn’t happen from having a lack of willpower or as a result of making bad decisions. Your brain chemistry changes with addiction. There are two main groups of addiction: Substance addictions (substance use disorders), and Non-substance addictions (behavioral addictions).” – Cleveland Clinic
I have spent over thirty years walking with some of the brightest, healthiest, holiest people I know who every day navigate the disease of addiction. And through that privilege I have learned an immense amount about surrender and support, hope and healing that is universally applicable.
The primary affliction of the disease of addiction is isolation. Secrecy, denial, rationalizing creates an individualistic illusionary lonely reality.
As such the core of recovery work is acknowledging the limits of one’s own capacity. The act of surrender, in fact, creates space for the Higher Power (in the 12 Step vernacular), as well as others, to be companions and supporters on the daily journey toward wholeness. As author and journalist on addiction Johan Hari writes, “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s connection.”
Politics and criminal charges aside, it was a powerful witness of the Biden family in Hunter’s acknowledgement that it is only by God’s grace and the support of those around him that healing is coming his way – and – the unconditional love of his parents and family. Which, in the end, is what all of us need whether we suffer from the disease of addiction or not.
“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.”