Recovery is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds one pearl of great price he sells everything he has to buy that one treasure. So what is the treasure I am speaking about?
As we reflect on Recovery and healing today faith is the great pearl that changes our lives. Faith invites us into the beauty of the 12 steps of Recovery (see below). To be a person of faith is to live in friendship with people who support our Recovery and brothers and sisters in Recovery with us.
This is an invaluable gift, a treasure of unsurpassed value. Faith opens us to the unimaginable gift of conversing with people who are content and at ease with their lives. With faith, we begin to see everything, including the challenges and difficulties of life as our brothers and sisters see faith. Faith allows us to respond to the 12 steps of Recovery and calls each of us by name to experience love and mercy through the wisdom of people in Recovery and those who support us.
So what do we search for in life? What do I treasure most? Is being a son or daughter and belonging to Recovery my pearl of great price? Does a deeper faith in healing the treasurer I long for daily?
Recovery invites us to give thanks for the gift of faith and to long for the words of Recovery which is a light to our heart and soul. Recovery words are one thing we can discover and live by every day on the journey of hope, healing, and health.
12 Steps of Health
- We dedicate ourselves to a lifestyle of Recovery; our lives have purpose and meaning.
- We believe a Power greater than ourselves is the path to hope, healing, and health.
- We choose to contemplate daily, how faith in our Higher Power and Recovery Community can bring us peace.
- We choose to educate ourselves and find the courage to strive for the highest level of health and well-being.
- We communicate our Plan of Recovery with our Higher Power, with ourselves, and with another human being.
- We allow our Higher Power to be the lighthouse in our lives.
- We humbly ask our Higher Power to reveal his unconditional love and ongoing presence within us.
- We acknowledge our behaviors have impacted our relationships. We list those affected by our behavior and whenever possible become willing to reconcile or thank them for their support during a relapse or mental health crisis.
- We seek mutual reconciliation for a harmful action we committed and seek forgiveness from those we harmed or were impacted by our behavior. Then, let go of our shame because it no longer serves a purpose in our lives, we understand we were designed because we are loved and to be in relationships with other people.
- We continually review our Plan of Recovery with our Higher Power, support team, and those we trust.
- We come to recognize our shortcomings during recovery, while discovering our Higher Power is the source of our strength and mercy, we learn to rely on our Higher Power for the courage to heal through prayer, reflection, mindfulness, and when necessary seek professional support.
- We gain insight into our recovery through our Higher Power as we model these steps, and share our journey toward hope, healing, and health with people.
Adapted From 12 Steps of Alcoholic/Depressed Anonymous by Larry Winter and Collene Spaeth
Revised: 6/5/20
SuperHuman Being
Peace
Larry
email: ljw@superhumanbeing.net
website: https://superhumanbeing.net/
