To practice these principles in all my affairs
For those who know that they have an illness of the body and the spirit involving addiction to alcohol, other drugs, food, sex or other substances outside their bodies the 12-step approach to healing has literally and spiritually been a lifesaver. The 12th step of the program is “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to (others suffering from the same addiction), and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
Many, when they begin their road to recovery/healing and are introduced to the 12-step program are confused by the assertion that it is a spiritual program. While it is true that in some meetings and some segments of the 12-step approach it seems that a very Christian concept of God is referred to often most understand that a God of one’s understanding or a power greater than oneself is the center of this healing approach. Some may come to the 12-step program with a very negative historical experience with religion. Some may come with a background in the Jewish faith, the Muslim faith or no faith in any divine being or power greater than oneself. Some arrive with a history of not having parents who were healthy enough to depend on and, thus, have not been able to trust any other person or being.
Once someone begins to accept the possibility of a “we” - of not having to do this journey alone – and accepting that the answer is not running via the use of alcohol, other drugs or something else such as sex, money or power they are ready to begin to be open to facing themselves as the broken human they are without any shame but with the ability to be accountable and to make amends to themselves and others except when to do so would cause more injury. Only then is one ready to deal with issues ,including one’s own mistakes, as they arise and to become a person who can reach out and help others.
On this weekend set aside in many parts of the country to remember and honor Martin Luther King Jr. the challenge is to trust that indeed “We can overcome.” We can overcome our human fears. We can overcome our human temptation to run when someone threatens and uses violence towards us or others. We can overcome by not responding to violence with violence. We can overcome when someone treats us as less then and makes false accusations. We can overcome by responding to hate borne of fear with love. We can all follow the 12 step as we together face the challenges and opportunities presented to us.
We can practice these principles in all our affairs; focus on being accountable without same; set aside our fear of trust and work together to demonstrate a more just, inclusive dance; accept our humanness and the humanness of others which can be very cruel at times; resist the temptation to take the behavior of others as personal even when the effect is personal. This is the challenge which the life work of the very human Martin Luther King Jr. presents.
Today I will be mindful of the blessing of the challenge to “practice these principles in all my affairs.” I will fall short and need to make amends. I will get up and try again. I will respond to hate with love and non-violence.
Written January 19, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
For those who know that they have an illness of the body and the spirit involving addiction to alcohol, other drugs, food, sex or other substances outside their bodies the 12-step approach to healing has literally and spiritually been a lifesaver. The 12th step of the program is “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to (others suffering from the same addiction), and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
Many, when they begin their road to recovery/healing and are introduced to the 12-step program are confused by the assertion that it is a spiritual program. While it is true that in some meetings and some segments of the 12-step approach it seems that a very Christian concept of God is referred to often most understand that a God of one’s understanding or a power greater than oneself is the center of this healing approach. Some may come to the 12-step program with a very negative historical experience with religion. Some may come with a background in the Jewish faith, the Muslim faith or no faith in any divine being or power greater than oneself. Some arrive with a history of not having parents who were healthy enough to depend on and, thus, have not been able to trust any other person or being.
Once someone begins to accept the possibility of a “we” - of not having to do this journey alone – and accepting that the answer is not running via the use of alcohol, other drugs or something else such as sex, money or power they are ready to begin to be open to facing themselves as the broken human they are without any shame but with the ability to be accountable and to make amends to themselves and others except when to do so would cause more injury. Only then is one ready to deal with issues ,including one’s own mistakes, as they arise and to become a person who can reach out and help others.
On this weekend set aside in many parts of the country to remember and honor Martin Luther King Jr. the challenge is to trust that indeed “We can overcome.” We can overcome our human fears. We can overcome our human temptation to run when someone threatens and uses violence towards us or others. We can overcome by not responding to violence with violence. We can overcome when someone treats us as less then and makes false accusations. We can overcome by responding to hate borne of fear with love. We can all follow the 12 step as we together face the challenges and opportunities presented to us.
We can practice these principles in all our affairs; focus on being accountable without same; set aside our fear of trust and work together to demonstrate a more just, inclusive dance; accept our humanness and the humanness of others which can be very cruel at times; resist the temptation to take the behavior of others as personal even when the effect is personal. This is the challenge which the life work of the very human Martin Luther King Jr. presents.
Today I will be mindful of the blessing of the challenge to “practice these principles in all my affairs.” I will fall short and need to make amends. I will get up and try again. I will respond to hate with love and non-violence.
Written January 19, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
RSS Feed