Confessions of a Gamer

Today I heard a sad confession from a co-worker. He’s been my hotel roommate for about a week now. He’s a really nice kid. Grew up in Provo, Utah, to a good family and he has a lot of great things going for him. But he has an addiction…

It was one of the saddest things I have ever heard. He’s not addicted to drugs. He’s not addicted to pornography. He’s not even addicted to alcohol or smoking. He’s addicted to gaming.

Every spare moment that he’s not at work he is on his computer playing in an alternate universe. His friends are online, his joys are online, his life is online. He explained to me that he lives two separate lives (in the real world and in the gaming world) and he likes his gaming world life better. And so it is the gaming world where he prefers to live for most of the day and night. It’s his shelter, it’s easier than real life, and he finds fleeting pleasures there, just like other addictions can bring.

Today he told me about how he hasn’t finished college because gaming pulls him away. He told me about his lowered confidence and fear of dating and marriage because of his lack of social interaction. He’s in his upper 20’s and he feels like he lost his chance for a regular job, a mission, a marriage because of gaming. He’s given up. It is a true tragedy.

I’ve been trying to help him in the past few days and I’m going to get him out on a date, out to church, and out into the real world. With the gospel of Jesus Christ it’s not too late for him to come back.

But this experience with my hotel roommate, who is seriously an awesome person and quickly becoming a good friend, has opened up a new avenue of thought for me concerning addictions.

When we think addictions we think of big, bad things like the above mentioned drugs and porn and yadayada. But what addictions, be it small or large, are preventing you or me from living our life fully? Is there a card game? A soda we’ve got to have every day? A TV show? Addictions are scary, tragic, and life-ruining.

So ask yourself today if you are in control of your life, and if the answer is no then get on your knees, and then get to work to make the most of every single day!