- Progress and Perfection
- Posts
- Doers Do...
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
James 1:22
REFLECTION
The stranglehold of addiction chokes out the will to live.
It allows us to become passive in the extreme, and it persists in its pursuit of us far into sobriety.
Living sober is no magic pill. There are plenty who are able to do it, and some with relative ease, while still holding on to the worst parts of themselves.
But living sober is not the same as sober living.
The most natural thing for the newcomer is to tense up against everything and everyone. Folly is disguised as caution.
We need to be walking in action, in love, toward belief, toward God. This can and should be done with curiosity.
We ought to investigate this way of life. We ought to interrogate those who suggest it. But we ought to lose our attitudes of defiance and be reasonable in the process.
The truth we find is less shocking than we’d imagined.
Those who are sincere are typically easy to spot. Same with those who are full of it.
But the truth is easy to parse when we look at the results. In this case, the realities of the lives of the people we have found in recovery.
Are they living out what they give lip service to? Are they consistent? Happy? Trusted?
These things we have sought are byproducts of living in alignment with our God and our fellows.
The will of God does not have to be complicated. If we are willing to invite Him in and to begin putting others ahead of ourselves, we will begin to decipher that will.
Pieces remain constant: staying sober, helping others, seeking God…and not necessarily in that order.
God, help me seek you in good days and in bad.
NEXT STEPS
When you’re ready, here are some tools for you:
Book List (amazon link)
Some of my favorite reads related to recovery and/or wrestling with faith.4th Step Guide (free download)
A PDF with instructions and worksheets for a thorough 4th step. Straight from the Big Book. Fearlessness not included.12-Step Christianity (YouTube)
My thoughts on the parallels between discipleship and sponsorship.
Reply