meyanderings

Growing up  across three countries stoked my curiosities. Diverse acquaintances encouraged inclusion. Life was full of variety. Fear of failure accompanied many options . Belief in absolutes withered over frequent moves and lost friendships. C ravings  arose early. Sugar, consumer products, and visual entertainment promised instant gratification. Movies, television, and video games became easily accessible escapes. These excursions fed an active imagination. God  was an ever-present helper and disciplinarian. He could save or condemn; comfort or terrify. My behavior and His whims would determine my fate. The predictable care of family and friends represented His love while painful inconsistencies and consequences demonstrated His wrath. Escapism  diverts the mind and numbs pain. But cultivation of escape routes deepens the fears and insecurities that lead to them. Anxious and/or avoidant attachments replace faith in a more secure life. Addictions serve as survival strategies for an ext