“We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.” –Step One

Powerless does not mean helpless. When we lose electric power in our house due to a downed wire or a storm, I call the power company and pray for the power to come back on. There is nothing I can do in my own ability to repair the electricity.

Yet, I can light candles for light. I can take care where I step, and be sure important things are within reach.  I am not helpless.

Babies, either human or animal, are both powerless and helpless. They can’t get their own nourishment and are mostly dependent on the mother, or other caretakers, for all their needs. Alcoholics and addicts are powerless over their addictions, and we are powerless to make them recover.

Last year just before Thanksgiving I hurt my back. It kicked up an acute inflammation of sciatica. It was awful and painful. I took pain medication for about a week. After that, I had to rely on meds designed for nerve inflammation and ibuprofen.  I moved slowly and everything hurt. What helped get me through this until I was scheduled for an epidural injection a couple weeks ago? Distraction.

A distraction of any kind, whether it was a game on my phone, a Netflix series to binge, or a fantastic book–these are the things that got me through.

Powerless does not mean helpless.

Peace out,

Chris