In South Africa a young girl watched her mother weave a simple basket. She asked her mother, “What are you making?” The wise mother replied, “We are short on money and need to buy coal for our stove. So, I am making a monkey trap.”

“But, momma that basket is far too small for a monkey to fit into. I know it won’t work.”

“Well, the trap is quite small child. But, the trap needs to only fit the hand of the monkey, not his body to work.”

“Mmm, I don’t understand.”

“You see we chain this basket to a strong tree and put inside a delicious piece of fruit. When the monkey notices the fruit inside the basket, he grabs the fruit quickly and tries to pull it out. Surprise, our trap is not wide enough for him to remove his clenched fist with the bait. So, he is stuck, trapped, and we can sell him alive to the Afrikaners.”

“Why doesn’t the monkey just let go of the fruit and escape?”

“Because the monkey is greedy, single minded, and obsessed with the fruit. He will not let go because he is afraid someone else may get it or he will have to find something else to eat that he cannot see.”

“Momma’ I’m very glad I am not as dumb as a monkey!”

The addiction trap works the same. Just like monkeys are focused on their fruit, addicts are focused on their addiction. Even though an addict’s drug of choice is holding them hostage, most will not let go. They believe that what they have in their hand is far too precious to ever let go of. Instead, of letting go of their addiction and being free, they will hold out to the end. They are stubborn, hoping that something will change and they will be able to have their drugs and their freedom at the same time. It seems that humans and monkeys still have a lot in common.

IS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU NEED TO LET GO OF SO YOU CAN FINALLY BE FREE?