I hope wherever you are, you know Recovery is with you right where you are.
If someone knew the best way to do something, and that thing was an important part of life, wouldn’t we want to learn everything we could from them? Most of us would answer, “Yes.”
Now imagine a city where people live clean and sober lives and have built a culture of healing for those facing mental health challenges. For centuries, these people endured persecution under the Muslim Turks. They suffered genocide and, more recently, oppression under communist atheists.
They have known great suffering. Yet through that suffering, they learned an important Recovery lesson: healing and sacrifice are deeply connected.
What does this have to do with Recovery?
In this community, when people are active in Recovery and face long seasons of suffering, they follow a meaningful ritual. They bring a crucifix to their church. The pastor blesses it and says, “You have found your cross. It is a cross to be loved and carried—not thrown away, but cherished.”
From that day forward, they bring their hopes, dreams, struggles, worries, gratitude, and sorrows to the practice of Recovery. They learn that love and sacrifice cannot be separated. Together, they help us overcome selfishness, envy, pride, shame, and emptiness.
In our relationships, we are often tempted to think only of ourselves. Recovery gently teaches us another way. It teaches us that love grows when we are willing to sacrifice for one another. Love and sacrifice walk hand in hand.
The city I mentioned earlier supports Recovery because its people strive to live in harmony with their values. Their words and actions match. They seek alignment between who they are, what they believe, and how they care for those who are suffering.
Never underestimate the power of a kind word or a simple act of kindness. In Recovery, even small acts of love can bring great healing. The future of Recovery depends on the selfless care we call kindness.
When we bring sacrifice into our relationships, we create space for the fruits of Recovery to grow. New life begins to breathe into our relationships, our communities, and our hearts.
Remember, Recovery is happening right now, in this moment.