Today’s blog I want to focus on the power of the 12 steps to touch us and transform us. A person visited a synagogue to learn about the Jewish faith and tradition. The guide took the person around the synagogue to show the different places. The guide brought the person to the tabernacle and rolled out the scroll. The person asked the guide, “How does the Jewish faithful read scripture”?
The guide momentarily thought, “We read it as if it was a love letter”. What a powerful experience this was for the person taking a tour. I know when I receive a note or letter it excites me and reminds me of the person. There is a little sadness to it because it reminds me how far away I am from consistently implementing the 12 steps of Recovery. I long to arrive at a deeper level of healing.
Wayne hears a heavenly voice and takes a sheet of paper with the 12 steps of Recovery on it and swallows it. He realizes it is not just about listening or hearing but swallowing it into his entire self and being. He experiences what is sweet and sour. Sweet reminds him of the love of practicing the 12 steps and the transformative power they offer to him. Sour maybe because he realizes how far away he is from the full implementation of the steps and how he continues to journey toward God.
There was a group of people interested in Recovery gathering around a booth at a book fair trying to get closer to the author and hear about Recovery. Several people see what is happening and their encounter with the author who wants to clear them out due to their disruptive behavior. These individuals wanted to clear the author out as well but they can’t do it. They can’t do it because they see people hanging on every word of the author. They have heard the author’s message of unconditional love and compassion. They heard the words of transformation and mercy.
On this day let’s implement the 12 steps and let them transform us and touch us in ways we are not expecting.
12 Steps to Health
Hope ≈ Healing ≈ 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/