Smashed

TRUTH

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

James‬ ‭1‬:‭25

REFLECTION

Step one is the hardest because it’s the giant leap that is taken in our gut.

It requires admission and defeat and acceptance far beyond what we have considered until the pain of addiction brought us a new level of willingness.

But even when we approach step one with willingness, we can hold on to the lies that are still lingering in the back of our mind.

The hopes that most of us have in some shape: I’ll be fine if I just clean up for a while; I just need to learn to moderate; if only xyz situation were different, I’d be ok.

Fill in the blank. The list goes on and on. And none of it is new. And none of it is true.

I can’t safely drink again. The root of my problem was deeper than I knew when I arrived in recovery.

I conceded, like everyone, that I was hopeless. But I, like a lot of folks, still held on to some reservations. I still minimized my addiction just a bit.

I believe the best remedy for this is found in the fellowship encouraged by recovery programs.

When I began to let others get to know me and was honest with them, I was able to hear their experience with the difficult personal concessions of coming to terms with the extent of their addiction.

Addiction is only a death sentence if I ignore it.

Step work is designed to pry me out of the obtuse view of life that I had resorted to.

The first step frees me to see reality, to admit my place in it and to step into the current of a new life.

God, help me see myself for the wreck I became.

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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.