Power and Prestige Addicts Anonymous

Hi, my name is Rick… I am an addict.

I am addicted to power, property, prestige and possessions.

At first glance you can’t tell that am an addict. If you looked at my life you’d think that I have no problem. I am sitting beside you at church. I sit across from you during our meeting. I workout at your gym. I have been relatively successful by society’s standards. I am deeply and madly in love with my wife. I am currently living my dream, following my passion and find much encouragement along the way. If you look at me you wouldn’t know that I am and addict for my eyes are not sunken in the back of my head. I am not hovering in the corner of an abandoned building with track marks on my arms, or peeing on your front lawn but I am an addict.

It is not that I have a ton of power, prestige or possessions, I am just addicted to them. Do you know how I know, because I go through withdrawals when any of these are not within my grasp. I don’t own much so you may not think I am addicted to possessions. I guess my addiction is crafty because I am addicted to the "ability" and power to possess—if I so choose. Power.

Addict means to cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance. I find that power, prestige, and possessions are habit-forming substances.

Are you addicted to power, prestige, or possessions? Power is not hard to give-up if you’ve never had any. If you have had power try giving it up, it won’t be long until you need a fix. The adrenaline will pump through your veins and then you’ll begin to search everywhere for just a taste of power--- or control.

Be careful for control is an addiction and you may think that you can control your obsessive need to control. The addiction to power may be as cunning and baffling as drugs.

Prestige is as addictive as power. It means the level of respect at which one is regarded by others; or person's high standing among others; honor or esteem. Widely recognized prominence, distinction, or importance. Wait until it is removed and you wake up in a cold sweat craving it. I can pretend to be humble all day as long as I am in charge and respected. Take away my power and prestige and I may not be as humble as I think I am.

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Gerald May says, "there is always some level at which we can choose, freely, to turn to God or turn away from God, to seek grace or avoid it, to be willing for our attachments to be lightened or to hold onto them." Hmmm… decisions, decisions.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." Keep coming back.