Nick Karnel Williams

Remember your first cigarette? Mine was in primary school. One of the boys decided it would be cool to steal a smoke from their parents. After school, five of us would sneak off into the bush, sharing a puff while trying not to cough. It’s funny how I still remember that moment. I ran straight home afterward and went straight to the shower. Can you imagine the fear of getting caught? Especially as a Pacific kid. I never wanted to do it again—at least not until high school.

I was around 13 then, heading toward the field at Massey High School and trying to fit in with the cool kids. Back then, you could buy and sell smokes for a dollar; a pack was around six dollars. All I wanted was to be accepted in that crowd. It wasn’t exactly clever, but for years after, I found myself on and off smoking throughout my teens. I think I didn’t fully commit until I was about 20.

Those years felt like an ongoing addiction I could never quite shake. Before vapes, I worked in corporate security for over a decade. A manager once told me about e-cigarettes—how you could buy them in China for $3 and have them shipped to New Zealand for free. I thought, okay—strawberry air, pineapple air. The funny thing is, I started selling them around 99 bucks because that was the going price. Not a huge hustle, but enough. Because I smoked so much of it, I ended up quitting for three years by focusing on an intense exercise routine.

When I returned to the scene, I worked with guys who didn’t really smoke until I was back with the Island boys at Rooty Hill. Smoking was just part of the culture there, and again, I wanted to be part of the crowd.

I didn’t find many reasons to quit until recently, when I had a conversation with God. He literally took it from me. It’s been a few months now, and it’s funny how your senses of smell come back. Now I can smell again—and can I just say? Why didn’t anyone tell me, except my wife, that it stinks? Lol.

This message has been on my heart this morning, so I thought I’d share. What’s the point of this blog? Well… if you’re aligned with God and you know you’ve got a habit, ask Him to take it away. And He will.

Twenty-seven years of on-and-off smoking, and I believe I’ll never go back because of Gods help to make me realise my flesh does not control me. I’ve been blessed with a community, and I’ve been blessed to teach our young ones about making good choices so this is apart of many I will make to not be a hypocrite as I teach. Again!

The subject of smoking has never been brought up until now but for anyone who needs help. Pick up the Bible and start reading 🙂