Subject: Finding Lasting Peace: Spiritual Fulfillment Over Substance Use (05/26/'24) -Message

Subject: Finding Lasting Peace: Spiritual Fulfillment Over Substance Use In the quiet hum of ancient times, where marble statues whispered wisdom and olive groves danced under divine eyes, a cup of wine passed lips like a sacred rite. It was nectar of joy, a balm for weary souls. Civilizations rose on riverbanks, where herbs and potions held the earth's secrets. Healing hands and mystical minds crafted elixirs to soothe and inspire, seeking the divine in fermented grapes, finding solace in Dionysian dreams. Now, in the neon hum of modern cities, where glass towers scrape the sky and streets pulse with restless lives, addiction creeps like a shadow in the alleys. Water, pure and clear, remains our constant, yet wine, and more, weave through our days. Narcotics and stimulants are our silent companions in a world driven by speed and stress. Ancient sensibilities, carved from stone and scroll, echo in modern minds shaped by silicon and screens. Both, at their core, seek fleeting peace in the embrace of substances for a moment’s release. Regulations rise like iron gates to shield us from our own desires, yet the heart still yearns, in whispers and cries, for the timeless escape, the momentary fire. From olive groves to urban jungles, the human spirit’s quest endures—to find in a glass, a leaf, or a pill, a glimpse of solace, a break from pain. No civilization, old or new, has found life tolerable without a touch of the divine, the numbing, the exhilarating. But there is another way, whispered in sacred texts, lived in the quiet strength of the faithful. Instead of seeking solace in substances, be filled with the Spirit. Let your heart find peace in deeper waters, not in fleeting escapes. Seek spiritual fulfillment, where joy is boundless and peace, eternal. Build strong relationships, let love and community be your refuge. Find healthy outlets, let creativity and nature renew your spirit. Seek professional help when the shadows grow too dark. In mindfulness and self-care, let every breath, every moment be a step towards lasting peace. For in the embrace of spiritual fulfillment, we find not just a momentary release, but an enduring solace, a timeless peace. This is the quest, the journey of the human spirit, spanning ages and lands, whispering through the ages, guiding us towards the light. Pastor Steven G. Lee (May 26, 2024)