Healer or Hindrance

When was the last time you leaned over to your neighbor while in a 12 Step meeting and made mention of someone who was in the rooms that was the proverbial 30 day wonder. You know the type. They have been in the fellowship for years and keep coming back alright, every 30 days. Relapse after relapse they keep showing up crying about how they just can’t stay clean and or sober and how they feel lower than dirt.

Oh did I pinch a nerve? Why, you and I wouldn’t be caught dead going in and out like that. We have the program down to a science and because we know that we can only do this thing one day at a time we have arrived. Haven’t we?

Out one side of our mouth we say we haven’t arrived and then as soon as the 30 day wonder comes back in the doors we pass judgment, make critical remarks that if heard by them would finish the job of crushing their spirit.

Am I being somewhat hard on us? Perhaps, but if you think about it we have all been guilty of looking at someone as less than ourselves. Maybe not in our home group but somewhere in life we have passed the Ebenezer Scrooge test.

What are we so afraid of? Is it the broken member who can’t seem to stay clean and or sober? I doubt it. I would venture to say we are afraid of falling into some of our old behaviors. The returning member who continues to relapse simply reminds us of who we are with out working a spiritual program and leaning on a power greater than ourselves. We verbalize our frustration and fear aiming it towards our broken member. Do they sense this? Of course they do, and they keep coming back. The funny thing is; if the tables were turned they are the ones who would show compassion and speak a kind word.

Application and Implementation

This week I will sit down with my sponsor, minister, or someone who I am accountable to. I will search my spirit and ask God to reveal in me any judgmental and wrong thinking that I may have towards those who don’t seem to be able to stay recovered.

I will put pen to paper and complete a thorough 4^th step as it is only in taking our eyes off others that we can truly inspect our own hearts, motives and principles. It is only in trusting God that we will ever grow into a person who is willing to help mend the broken hearted. Therefore this week I will determine to become a healer not a hindrance.

Until next week, I wish Serenity for You!

Monty’man

 

Special Note:  ALL NEW, The Take 12 Recovery Radio Show in Streaming Audio Broadcasting this Friday! June 10th 2005! www.take12radio.com