Catnip makes cats crazy. Sometimes Baxter cries to have some. When I put a pinch on his scratch pad, he sniffs it, claws it, rolls in it, and then eats it. He becomes totally engrossed by its lure and the effects. As he has gotten older, those effects have become more subtle. As a kitten, he would drool when he got some catnip. As a spry adult, he would caress the nip and stay with it for a long time. As a mature fellow now, Baxter seems less dramatically affected by the herb, but he still craves it at times and soon becomes calm after eating it. Catnip is Baxter’s drug for happiness, peace and contentment. He becomes a different cat for a while when he has a sniff or taste.
What does this for us? What do we use to escape the hassles of our ordinary day, the dilemmas of our life choices, or the conflicts with our friends and family. We know that some people literally turn to drugs to ease the confusion and pain. It often starts with pain killers left over from a recent surgery or illness. Sometimes it comes with a casual offer from a peer, fellow worker or friend. We are curious about what it is like. We are looking for something to give us a little relief from life’s troubles and struggles. We don’t know where to turn, so we take what comes our way. In this drug infested world, that is all that it takes to start down a path that leads to threatening and destructive behavior for ourselves and others.
It’s easy and it’s everywhere. Let’s not kid ourselves. Drug abuse is in our community, among our church members, within our families and in our neighborhoods. Whether its alcohol abuse, prescription addictions, or illegal substances, whether we drink it, snort it, inject it or smoke it, we are vulnerable to liking the effects of many powerful, mind and mood altering substances that are all around us. These effects deceive us. In our pressure cooker world, they seem to bring peace and calm. In our struggling to love and understand each other in our relationships, they seem to bring clarity and care. In our search for meaning and happiness in living, they offer an easy answer to emptiness and aimlessness. Like much of the evil we encounter in our world, drugs don’t lure us directly. They disguise themselves as good things to help us. Only when we are hooked, do the destructive effects of these devil dealers become evident, usually to those who stand by helplessly and watch, not knowing what to do.
But we disciples of Christ are not left helpless and hopeless. Our faith gives us resources to use in the face of evil. We pray, making ourselves aware of a power beyond ourselves that can bring true peace and happiness without abusing any substances. We come together to allow each other to see that we are not alone in the face of evil. Christ’s Spirit unites us to stand together for what is right, good and genuinely helpful for others. We act in the name of the Lord Jesus. We don’t expect to change an evil situation and the lives affected by it overnight. But we must take steps in a positive direction. We must show people that things can be different than they experience them right now. We believe in the power of good to touch people and motivate them, and we don’t give up on anyone, no matter how many relapses or mistakes they have had. We keep calling them to take responsibility for setting their lives on a positive course, and we will help them help themselves along the way.
Too bad the drug problem isn’t catnip. We could just laugh at its effects and carry on as usual. Our problem is a life and death matter for many that affects the safety and security of our whole community. Don’t turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to those caught in the evil of substance abuse and addiction. For what we do to the least, we do to Christ Himself. Together we can find our way led by the Spirit to do what is needed to make a better place for us all.
