FAITH MONTH: DAY 21: “Faith is more than our greatest gift; its sharing with others is our greatest responsibility. May we of A.A. continually seek the wisdom and the willingness by which we may well fulfill that immense trust which the Giver of all perfect gifts has placed in our hands.” – Bill Wilson
What happens, I believe, when we begin to testify about our faith and how it has grown and developed into the amazing acceptance of Grace that keeps us on the path of recovery; is that we begin to see it grow in front of our eyes.
I have had this experience when working with clients in treatment or private therapy, with those I sponsor, when talking to regular people who have questions about recovery, and when I write these pages each day.
I get to examine and talk about this thing that is keeping me on a spiritual path, not just clean and sober, but SO much more!
Again, I will reiterate that the purpose of my life is not just to “not drink or use”; but to unfold the insanity of the thinking that told me this was my best course and walk away from that belief system. As I do, I share it in many ways with others, in meetings, in groups, one-on-one, on the phone, in my home, wherever and whenever I can.
And when I am not doing that, I am going out into communities of people who have suffered grave consequences of legal or emotional types and talking to them about this thing, this spiritual path of recovery that has shifted my life into an entire new direction and dimension.
This is the payment for what we receive. For me, it is an avocation, a vocation and a lifestyle. I am not saying that AA or any other 12-step group is my calling. I am saying that recovery is my testimony. That 12-step recovery of any kind is the path that has led me to a spiritual life that I love beyond measure. It is where it began and where I feel most connected to the folks who are walking along-side me in this journey.
Any one of you who have ever met me know how much I love to talk. And my enthusiasm for this life and spiritual principles has never waned. It grows each day and I am so excited about the depth and breadth and scope of its power.
Perhaps that is my gift. My voice, my big mouth, my need to tell everyone about this thing. I once had a crazy dream of being in a balloon that went to meetings and it would land and I would speak, kind of like the man who played the wizard in Wizard of Oz; only I was talking about 12-step recovery and the power it has to change lives and heal.
Great dream, maybe someday…hahaha. But I would love to do that. It is not like travel isn’t my thing, anyway. But I do believe we are here to talk and show each other the way. As Ram Dass said, “We are all just walking each other home.”
As we do, let’s continue to share our love of this thing. Stop talking about the problems you have with your faith. What about your faith is working? Perhaps that is what we need to grow. Focus on that, and it will become ENORMOUS!! Isn’t that wonderful???
Dolphin Hug 