Daily Grind

TRUTH

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

REFLECTION

Life in recovery, like life in general, isn't smooth.

It's a daily grind. A rhythm.

There are good days, bad days, and days where you just feel like you're going through the motions. The temptation is to go back to old ways. To soften the edges by dulling the pain.

But here's the thing: that grind, that friction, it's where the real work gets done. It’s not about avoiding the difficult stuff or numbing our way through it. It’s about facing it, learning from it, and coming out the other side a little bit stronger, a little bit sharper.

I can't do this alone. We aren't meant to do this alone. Just like iron sharpens iron, we need each other.

We need the people who will call us on our crap, the people who will challenge us to be better, the people who will walk beside us in the muck and mire.

It’s so much easier to isolate and pretend everything is fine. To put on a show and go through the motions. But I know that’s a losing battle. That isolation is the same darkness that got me into trouble in the first place.

The truth is: growth often comes through friction. It's uncomfortable and sometimes painful. We need others who are willing to stand next to us, be a mirror and help us to see ourselves.

If you're anything like me, this can feel really vulnerable. It’s way easier to shut people out than to let them in.

But this process is crucial. It's not about being comfortable, it's about being real, and it's about finding our strength in community and in the shared grace of God.

We are each other's whetstones.

God, help me to embrace the friction of growth.

NEXT

When you’re ready, here are some tools for you:

1. Book List (amazon link)
   Some of my favorite reads related to recovery and/or wrestling with faith.

2. 4th Step Guide (free download)
   A PDF with instructions and worksheets for a thorough 4th step. Straight from the Big Book. Fearlessness not included.

3. 12-Step Christianity (YouTube)
   My thoughts on the parallels between discipleship and sponsorship.

KEEP LEANING FORWARD

Cheers, Eamonn
Contact on LinkedIn, YouTube & Twitter.