Life can throw unexpected challenges at us, and when that happens, many turn to their faith for guidance. One such person is Dennis Quaid, the renowned actor and musician. At the age of 69, Quaid openly shares his journey of struggle with addiction and how his faith has been his guiding light throughout.
Quaid’s battles with addiction started after a successful start to his career. Eventually, he realized he needed help and checked himself into rehab, which he humorously refers to as “cocaine school.” It was during this time that Quaid had an epiphany, a moment of realization where he saw a future that he didn’t want for himself – a future filled with despair, ruin, and loss.
“I remember going home and having kind of a white light experience that I saw myself either dead or in jail or losing everything I had, and I didn’t want that,” Quaid shared.
Addiction, Quaid explains, is often an attempt to fill a void within ourselves. However, once the cycle is broken, something else must fill that void, something equally fulfilling. For Quaid, that something was his faith. He wrote a song for his mother, expressing his newfound contentment, and delved into religious texts, including the Bible and Quran.
“That’s when I started developing a personal relationship,” Quaid reminisces. “Before that, I didn’t have one, even though I grew up as a Christian.”
Quaid’s relationship with his faith continues to this day. He emphasizes that spirituality and the pursuit of joy are not limited to any specific religious affiliation. We all have a connection with something greater than ourselves, whether we identify as Christian or not.
“We’re all looking for the joy of life, and drugs give that to you and alcohol and whatever it is for anybody give that to you really quick. Then they’re fun and then they’re fun with problems, and then they’re just problems after a while. That’s really what we’re looking for, the joy of life, which is our gift, actually, the relationship with God that we all have. It’s at the bottom of it, the joy of being alive,” Quaid muses.
Quaid’s story serves as a powerful reminder that choosing sobriety and maintaining it is no easy task. It requires strength, determination, and support. His faith has played a major role in his journey, providing him with the strength to persevere.
With his upcoming album, Fallen: A Gospel Record For Sinners, Quaid shares his self-reflective and self-examining songs that resonate with his personal experiences. This record promises to be authentic and relatable, rather than simply catering to a specific church audience.
Let us applaud Dennis Quaid for his unwavering commitment to sobriety and his openness in sharing his story. It serves as an inspiration to others who may be facing similar struggles. Please share his story to encourage and uplift those who may need it most.
