Restoration
"Step 2: We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. "
For most of us, life's progression while in our alcoholism was destruction. Destruction to family, those closest to us, those we didn't even know, and most of all to ourselves. In one way or another, many of us wake up one day to realize that we are living like an animal. How true this is depends on the nature of our alcoholism.
Step 2 has provided a way for us to be restored to life. Restored to a manner of living that we can love, respect, and enjoy for 24 hours. I was reminded of this when life was insane and I found myself living lower than I have ever been before. I remembered when I had a home, a job, and people around me respected me for who I was, not what I could be. When I realized or even came to believe in God (a power greater than myself) could restore me to sanity, I realized for once in my life that things could be better.
To know what it is like to struggle with the effects of addiction and the absolute craziness it can bring to my life, it is truly a miracle that I am here to even write about it. The past month or so I was feeling the despair of the cares of life and wondering if there really is any way out of the insanity of my current circumstance. Could I really overcome what I deemed impossible odds without the help of a God? That is when I needed to remember if I believed that there is a power greater than myself besides the group of AA, then I had some faith that things in the beginning could get better. So I needed to find the faith that I used to overcome my hopelessness of mind and body, to overcome my current situations.
Faith is a mysterious commodity. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It takes faith to believe in a power greater than myself, it takes faith to work a program, it takes faith to work the steps, and it takes faith to LIVE a program for my very life. In an awesome way it is comforting that it only takes a little, the size of a mustard seed, to work in the most powerful ways to restore a peaceful life.
"So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn’t think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid. Many of us had moral and philosophical convictions galore, but we could not live up to them even though we would have liked to. Neither could we reduce our self-centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. We had to have God's help... God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most Good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom." page 62, Big Book of AA.
I know that right now, this moment, I have situations facing me that from the outside look impossible. Family, career, & financial are just to name a few. It would be so easy for me to just allow these circumstances steal my peace, serenity, hope, & faith. A week ago, that was almost the case. When I was ready to give up and just walk away, like a good care taker the Creator held onto me when I could not do it for myself. I am blessed in this life, this day. I'm alive for a specific reason; to live and enjoy the beauty that any day can bring. There was a time when I didn't care what the day looked like or even felt like. I wanted to numb myself to all feelings. Today I have the strength, guidance, and courage of the Creator! I am very determined to enjoy my life on a daily basis; moment by moment. When God looks at me he measures my heart not my head.
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.
Prescilla P.(DOS 9/25/04)
Crossroads, Inc. is a non-profit, drug and alcohol recovery, organization located in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona. Crossroads is a Level Four transitional facility licensed by the State of Arizona. The Crossroads program addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of alcoholism or drug addiction, by providing food, shelter, 12 step structure and discipline. We can help you find direction to sober living. Pick up the phone and call us: 602-279-2585. Visit our website at: http://sober360.com
For most of us, life's progression while in our alcoholism was destruction. Destruction to family, those closest to us, those we didn't even know, and most of all to ourselves. In one way or another, many of us wake up one day to realize that we are living like an animal. How true this is depends on the nature of our alcoholism.
Step 2 has provided a way for us to be restored to life. Restored to a manner of living that we can love, respect, and enjoy for 24 hours. I was reminded of this when life was insane and I found myself living lower than I have ever been before. I remembered when I had a home, a job, and people around me respected me for who I was, not what I could be. When I realized or even came to believe in God (a power greater than myself) could restore me to sanity, I realized for once in my life that things could be better.
To know what it is like to struggle with the effects of addiction and the absolute craziness it can bring to my life, it is truly a miracle that I am here to even write about it. The past month or so I was feeling the despair of the cares of life and wondering if there really is any way out of the insanity of my current circumstance. Could I really overcome what I deemed impossible odds without the help of a God? That is when I needed to remember if I believed that there is a power greater than myself besides the group of AA, then I had some faith that things in the beginning could get better. So I needed to find the faith that I used to overcome my hopelessness of mind and body, to overcome my current situations.
Faith is a mysterious commodity. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It takes faith to believe in a power greater than myself, it takes faith to work a program, it takes faith to work the steps, and it takes faith to LIVE a program for my very life. In an awesome way it is comforting that it only takes a little, the size of a mustard seed, to work in the most powerful ways to restore a peaceful life.
"So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn’t think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid. Many of us had moral and philosophical convictions galore, but we could not live up to them even though we would have liked to. Neither could we reduce our self-centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. We had to have God's help... God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most Good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom." page 62, Big Book of AA.
I know that right now, this moment, I have situations facing me that from the outside look impossible. Family, career, & financial are just to name a few. It would be so easy for me to just allow these circumstances steal my peace, serenity, hope, & faith. A week ago, that was almost the case. When I was ready to give up and just walk away, like a good care taker the Creator held onto me when I could not do it for myself. I am blessed in this life, this day. I'm alive for a specific reason; to live and enjoy the beauty that any day can bring. There was a time when I didn't care what the day looked like or even felt like. I wanted to numb myself to all feelings. Today I have the strength, guidance, and courage of the Creator! I am very determined to enjoy my life on a daily basis; moment by moment. When God looks at me he measures my heart not my head.
Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.
Prescilla P.(DOS 9/25/04)
Crossroads, Inc. is a non-profit, drug and alcohol recovery, organization located in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona. Crossroads is a Level Four transitional facility licensed by the State of Arizona. The Crossroads program addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of alcoholism or drug addiction, by providing food, shelter, 12 step structure and discipline. We can help you find direction to sober living. Pick up the phone and call us: 602-279-2585. Visit our website at: http://sober360.com
Labels: alcoholism treatment
posted by Prescilla at
1:11 PM
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