Hanging On To A Drowning Man and Other Addictions

Hanging on to a drowning man or woman is a dangerous call.

A friend who does this sort of thing told me once that rescuing a person while they are drowning is one of the most dangerous calls.  They are trained in how to take care of themselves and they know the right way to help people out of these close calls.  What is that they do?  Do they find a way to anchor themselves first to ensure their safety?  Do they have a backup to rescuing the rescuing?

Being the hero is a good feeling.  And it is addictive. 

Like all addictions, it puts us in a dangerous position mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.  We begin to see everyone as victims that we need to rescue.  If they are not victims to begin with then by the time we are done justifying their actions they will be by George.

Everyone wants us and soon we are making those rescues without a backup and without our safety in mind.  We become invincible in our own minds.  Our frame of reference has become distorted and it is dangerous.  Very very dangerous.  We are set up to fail.  To drown.

Only God can truly rescue us in any sense of the word.  We can be His help and His hands.  But only if we stay In Him.  Anchored.  Holding on. Hang on to God.  Then reach out to others.

He said:

   “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
   my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
   from violent people you save me. 2 Samuel 22:2-3