The Sorrow of Addiction

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Today I am thinking about Rob Reiner and his wife and their recent murders, apparently at the hand of their son. It seems along with drug addiction, the son had mental issues, perhaps brought on by the drugs, perhaps brought on by the drugs prescribed to help with the addiction and underlying issues that cause the drug addiction. I feel sad.

I am also thinking about President Trump’s post on Truth Social regarding the death of Rob Reiner, which I am not going to dignify by repeating it here, but you can look it up if you want. And I again feel sad.

I had seen and read Rob Reiner’s very angst-ridden declarations against Donald Trump. I didn’t pay them much attention. But however anyone feels or thinks for or against either one of these two people, Donald Trump and Rob Reiner, the fact that being murdered by your child is a horrific event and anything else surrounding that fact pales in comparison.

I had written months ago about addiction in this blog and the effect on families. It is a scourge on this nation. It is a clawing away of dignity and respect, honor and integrity. Addiction constantly works against the hope of both the addict and their families. 

I read somewhere where Rob Reiner had lamented that he had listened to professionals about his son's addiction more than he had listened to his son, that he had trusted in the diploma’s on the walls of the professionals. He said that the professionals were telling him his son was a liar, but he should have listened more to his son. Well, the truth is muti-faceted dealing with addictions - the professionals were probably right that his son was lying to him and the fact that the professionals aren’t the answer is most likely accurate as well.

Dealing with an addict is like Charlie Brown and the football. Lucy is holding the football (addict) and she is convincing Charlie Brown to kick again (the family) and eventually she is persuasive enough to get him to try again - and he finds himself flat on his back. 

If you are reading this as a Christian and you are wondering why I, as a Christian also, sound so depressing about addiction it is because the strength and power of addiction is a formidable foe. And if you know anyone who has this dynamic in their lives either by being an addict or being in a family with an addict, pray for them and support them without judgment. You might have to make a hard decision to establish firm boundaries with an addict - but that is a loving act if you are doing so with that hope it will bring them to their senses. Donald Trump stating that Rob Reiner’s death was most likely due to his angry political angst (which just so happened to be against President Trump) was really a statement beneath the dignity of the office he holds. As a strongly Christian nation we, including leaders, should certainly not be looking at events that happen as an opportunity to continue to push our agenda. God help us.

“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away”  - 1 Corinthians 13:9

Come Lord Jesus into our lives and into the lives of the addicted.