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The 12 Steps: A Recovery Program Explained and
Revised
Regular Price: $11.95
Of all the metaphors for life, "Life is a journey," seems to
fit best for many of us. There was a time, not too many twenty-four
hours ago, when my metaphor for life was, "Life is going from one
battle scene to the next. Trying my best to overcome one thing after
another, whether it be people, places, or things, achieving,
conquering, striving, doing what was expected, overcoming all the
odds, trying to be the best, consumed me. Most of my life was so
wrapped up trying to be something, I forgot how to just "be
me."
One day all of this "trying to be" came to an abrupt end.
Everything that seemed to have an importance in my life totally fell
apart. I had no home, no car, no job, no money, (just the clothes on
my back). At this point, I was introduced to the fellowships of
Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous and the twelve suggested
steps of recovery each fellowship used. It took some time for the
realization of my own addictions to finally set in. Since my new idea
of life was a journey, I decided to make the journey using the twelve
steps as my new path, just to see where they would lead.
Life has some very interesting twists to it. One of these twists is
that when there just seems to be no hope, no way out, no chance in a
million, a way is provided, almost magically. I have come to quit
believing in magic, yet, I do believe in miracles. As a matter of
fact, I consider myself to be a walking, talking, breathing miracle.
The twelve step path is a way out, an escape route, as well as, a path
to all we have been searching for in life.
The fellowship of AA and the twelve steps originated in Akron, Ohio,
in 1935, by two men determined to find a new path on their journey.
Although this is where AA was founded, the twelve step path is as old
as history itself. This path has been well worn by spiritual seekers
throughout time. Abraham, Moses, Solomon, Isaiah, Lao Tzu, Buddha,
Jesus, Mohammed, Francis of Assisi, Meister Eckert, Carl Jung, to name
a few, have known about and taught the basic tenants of the twelve
steps. The twelve steps are not new, just worded differently to be
better understood by those of us seeking a new path.
Every generation seems to have their own interpretation of how we are
supposed to act while we are here on earth, and the twelve steps are
our road map for our journey.
A great spiritual teacher once said, "We are not mortals seeking
to have a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings seeking to have
mortal experiences." Once we awaken to this realization, life and
living seem to take on a different complexion. What were once problems
now become opportunities. What used to be horrible experiences, now
become fantastic means for growth and development. Life changes for
us. Things just are not the same. People are not the same. Places are
not the same. Actually, people, places, and things are the same, we
are different. In the words of songwriter Paul Ritchy, "we are
seeing life through a brand new pair of eyes."
If you want a sneak preview of the coming attractions, look at step
twelve: "Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these
steps...." This pathway leads us to exactly what we have been
searching for all along..... a spiritual awakening.
As you read this, ask yourself, "What pathway am I on?"
"Where is it leading me?" About 2500 years ago Lao Tzu said,
"If you don't change your direction, you just might end up where
you are headed." Just what path are you on anyway? Is it a path
filled with joy, peace, and love? Or is it filled with pain, misery,
trouble, hate, resentment and fear? Carlos Castenada writes about Don
Juan saying, "Choose a path with heart." Does your path have
a heart? Look around your path at the road signs. Do you see
"Happiness ahead," "Peace area," "Serenity
Approaching," "Joy this way," or are your signs reading
something like: "Go to jail," "Drunk zone ahead,"
"Treatment Center," "DUI Approaching," "One
Way to Death?"
If you don't like the road signs you see, don't blame the highway
department, change the road. Choose a path with heart. Choose a path
that leads to life, not one that leads to self destruction Try the
twelve step path. As Jimmy Buffett sings in Off To See The
Lizard, "If it works for me, it will work for you.
You believe it will. It will come true." The twelve steps do
work, I am living proof and others are living proof. If you want
something better on your journey, if you are tired of all the old
roadside attractions, and if you are ready for a change, a positive,
life-giving change, then keep reading.
Wishing you LOVE, PEACE, JOY, AND SERENITY as you travel along on your
journey through this wonderful gift we call life.
Ordering Information
Item Number: 804
Shipping & Handling:$3.00
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