Authorship

Why does all the internal dialog of all addicts sound the same? Because it was written by the same author.

Teachers and professors looking for plagiarism use tools that analyze students’ writing. These tools watch for recurring themes, vocabulary, sentence structure, idioms, and other literary devices that match previous works. The only reason such tools are feasible is because, like a fingerprint, one’s voice is uniquely identifiable.

When reading about and interacting with fellow addicts I hear the same lies, justifications, excuses, pain, and suffering that repeated for years in my own mind. There’s very little that is one-of-a-kind in the addict’s repertoire. I recognize Satan as the author of all of these lies, and can see his voice of pride, anger, malice, and jealousy.

The antidote to the plagiarized lies is establishing connection with God and with other individuals. God knows all of His children individually and is able to help each one of them learn their personal, unique story. This true story about self combats the adversary’s incessant lies that pound the same keys of shame, despair, doubt, and fear.

I’m grateful to have seen the plagiarism and to have access to its antidote.