First Things First

The first things I want when emerging from disaster are immediate relief and a lot of time to have passed.

I want the relief of the passage of time that is outside my grasp. But it is within my imagination and so I desire it.

I long for five years of sobriety when I have a few days.

When I put together some years, I find that I’m still in the infancy of this journey and I covet the wisdom of old timers who have come before me.

Living today, I yearn for tomorrow’s carefree embrace.

As I begin to walk forward, I’m so distracted by the promise of the journey that I stumble over the steps right in front of me.

Recovery is spiritual kindergarten, and I haven’t yet graduated.

It lays the groundwork for living simply, for establishing a relationship with God, for beginning to walk in community with others.

And it takes time. But there’s no shortcut or secret to it, either. We simply begin when we are willing and persevere when we don’t want to.

If our faith is weak, we pray for it to grow. If our hope is tiny, we lean on the strength of others. If our resolve is flimsy, we look at what’s right in front of us and choose to do it right and well.

An old timer with a wry smile told me the secret to his long sobriety—he kept coming back and didn’t die.

Don’t be distracted by what you think is out of reach or by what you want at this moment.

God help me stay where my hands and feet are.