*Post Authored by Gary Wilkinson
"At this point in my journey I came to realize the burdensome chains around me were not going to be removed by some grand heroic feet of strength, but in all humility looking to God, "small and simply" removing them link by link".
-Gary Wilkinson
When we think of success in life and measure it by worldly standards we have a tendency to overlook the triumphs of everyday living. The world wants to herald great accomplishments, and while many may have merit it is easy to lose sight of what our life means if we begin to imperfectly compare. The way we perceive our own accomplishments can either elevate or undermine our desire, our commitment, and our confidence to continue to strive for more. It is good, and at some point necessary, to want to accomplish great and wonderful things in our life, yet if we do not recognize our day to day victories, we will be swallowed up in the feat that lay before us. I have an experience to illustrate this.
In high school and a bit after I became quite addicted to drugs and alcohol. Everything I did revolved around that life-style: clubs, bars, and raves. My friends and I lived for the time we could go get high; nothing else mattered. I would go as far as to say that who I was as a person was entangled in this habit. Through numerous experiences spiritual, painful, and otherwise, I made the decision to sober up. In the beginning I looked at the task as a whole. I had dropped out of high school, I had no job, I really had no dreams or aspirations because all of those were disposed to seeing how high I cold get. How was I going to make anything out of myself from this point. I was so overwhelmed by the task that I would find myself again and again slipping back into the same drug addicted oblivion. Each time I fell, it became that much harder to get back up. Oliver Wendell Holmes once said: "A mind stretched to a new idea can never return to its original dimensions", I know this is true.
Through my experiences I knew better than to be where I was. I knew that there were better things waiting for me, yet I could not escape. 2 Nephi 26:22 talks about Satan leading men with flaxen chord (soft rope) until he binds them with chains. We do not realize those chains are around us until we desire to move. At this point in my journey I came to realize the burdensome chains around me were not going to be removed by some grand heroic feet of strength, but in all humility looking to God, "small and simply" removing them link by link. Everything that was ahead of me would not be accomplished if I did not begin to appreciate and fight for my everyday sobriety. Perhaps some of the greatest actions have been taken in the solitary confines of ones own mind. I had to learn to live again a life without drugs and alcohol. As a I appreciated the everyday victories, the major accomplishments in my life eventually came to my doorstep. If we take the time to remove the chains link by link and fight the good fight everyday, we will gain the strength and know how to grab hold of life's major opportunities.
*If you would like to know more about Gary's story, and the views that we share, please fill out a contact form. In no way are any thoughts and opinions expressed official doctrine endorsed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Thank you for reading
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