Think about how you cope with difficult feelings, thoughts, and emotions. People have a strong range of methods we use. TV, eating, sex, drugs. On the more socially acceptable level we might get black and white and self righteous and rather than loving others we get consumed by what is right and wrong. Self righteousness is a very powerful way to cope and operates much like sex and drugs. Or maybe we just get busy around the house rather than have an important discussion. Escapism is less an activity and more of an art form for some of us!
I was in my men’s group one of the wise men in the group stated that at a larger level his sin and problems were more a way to escape from difficult thoughts and feelings more than anything else! In a way, I believe, we have all developed a person inside us that knows how to escape and hide! I call this my survivor man! Survivor man exists to protect the part of me that feels hurt and wounded. He won’t confront anything directly since his whole purpose is to protect you from the pain and difficult thoughts you developed in the past.
I know some people that run and hide from difficult thoughts, emotions, and relationships. Some of them have completely dysfunctional relationships because of this. Some of my friends have multiple broken relationships because of this. These people are running from broken relationships and difficult thoughts and feelings. Escapism techniques are an art form for some of them!
The people that I have as mentors (and friends) in my life are people that are at least aware of this problem… and they are doing their best to not RUN from difficult, thoughts, feelings, and difficult relationships. They are handling them by being emotionally honest about them… and they are allowing emotional honesty in return from others!
Rather than RUNNING from difficult thoughts, feelings, and difficult relationships …. they are RESTORING them!
Gospel Centric Thinking 