Well the tragic story of Jeff Dubay continues to unfold. The Star Tribune provided a new update as to his progress and it is not encouraging. Apparently he had been released from the workhouse to do sentence to serve work, and ended up at inpatient residential treatment at the Prodigal House treatment center. According to the article, the facility gave Jeff a view ‘second chances’ but he failed to engage and take part in the treatment program. The article reports that he was just going through the motions and making no real effort to change.
The story really highlights the difficulty at reaching a point of recognition and motivation to change. The addictions and desire for them are stronger than a will to live. Jeff was unable to reach the point of having a will to change. He is a slave to his addictions. Of course, it is easy to look down on Jeff Dubay or other addicts. Dr. Drew Pinsky’s Celebrity Rehab shows other people in similar states with varying levels of treatment engagement. All equally lost. Yet, Jeff Dubay and the varied celebrities are no different from the condition of us all. It is easy to look down on these folks and the paths of death and destruction they are walking. However, anyone walking a path of self is on a path of destruction. Some are not as obvious but it is all to real. The level of denial that exists is the same as it is with these lost souls.
There is only really one path that is not a path of destruction, and that is the pathway of Jesus. It is surrender of self to Him which results in reaching a state of true peace and wholeness. Now, such surrender does not involve instant change. There is a process of cleansing and changing. No one has to have things right to surrender. It does involve surrender of self. It is not something that is of lip service and words easily said. Rather, it is a complete turning of the will. As Bob Dylan once penned, We all gotta serve somebody. The choice is who, masters that lead to destruction or one that brings life, wholeness, and true peace? Jeff Dubay and various other celebrity drug addicts have sad stories. They once had achieved something but are destroying themselves for the false peace of one for of temporary stimulation or another. Their pathway to death is obvious. Their prison is readily apparent. Yet, take a look at your own life, ask for open eyes to see where the path you are treading leads. There are only two options. Pathways leading to death and destruction, and the pathway of life.
As for Jeff Dubay, the man needs prayer that he can have his eyes opened to what he is doing to himself and the cost. Pray that His eyes and ears become opened to spiritual truth and he sees his need for a Savior and the true peace found in Jesus. Yet, whether he does or not, his ability to change only comes at a point of brokenness and recognition of need for change. It is the same for each of us. Until we reach that point, the steps on the pathway of death but continue. The pathway to death is always easy to take, it takes recognition and work to move off that path.
Filed under: culture, Mental Health, news commentary, Suffering Tagged: | addiction, blind to sin, Celebrity Rehab, consequences of addiction, death, Denial, destruction, Dr. Drew Pinsky, drug addiction, failed treatment, failure, fall from grace, gotta serve somebody, human condition, Jeff Dubay, master, pathway to death, pathway to life, Priosn, sin
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I disagree. he will never love religion. Only his self. I shun religion myself but hope he can find something he can grab on to and make it through Detox and then start over. Clearly the chances are slim given his history.
Keith, actually nothing to disagree with there, other than perhaps true hope is found in Jesus. But, Yes, it would take a true broken heart and change for Jeff to turn to Jesus.
Let me let you know that while a lot of “Christianity” for people is a “religion” and simply external controls, true Christianity is about relationship with the Creator. Jeff at this point prefers his capture which has led to destruction and leads to death. Only really two paths, the path of death and path to life. Jesus is the only path to life.
Religion has allowed many people to change their lifestyle and in doing so relieve themselves of the demons of addiction
religion…schmidgion…..religion is really just a bunch of detestable habits, where relationship relativity is true conviction ….get it?