• Profile picture of tony

    tony posted an update in the group Group logo of CommunityCommunity 1 years, 2 months ago

    bruary 19th Hazelden Thought for the Day

    Our Path

    I just spent several hours with someone from my group, and I feel like I’m losing my mind. This woman insisted that the only way I would make progress in my program was to go to her church and succumb to her religious rules. She pushed and insisted, and insisted and pushed. She’s been in the program so much longer than I have. I kept thinking that she must know what she’s talking about. But it didn’t feel right. And now I feel crazy, afraid, guilty, and ashamed.
    —Anonymous

    The spiritual path and growth promised to us by the Twelve Steps does not depend on any religious belief. They are not contingent upon any denomination or sect. They are not, as the traditions of Twelve Step programs state, affiliated with any religious denomination or organization.

    We do not have to allow anyone to badger us about religion in recovery. We do not have to allow people to make us feel ashamed, afraid, or less than because we do not subscribe to their beliefs about religion.

    We do not have to let them do it to us in the name of God, love, or recovery.

    The spiritual experience we will find as a result of recovery and the Twelve Steps will be our own spiritual experience. It will be a relationship with God, a Higher Power, as we understand God.

    Each of us must find our own spiritual path. Each of us must build our own relationship with God, as we understand God. Each of us needs a Power greater than ourselves. These concepts are critical to recovery.

    So is the freedom to choose how to do that.

    Higher Power, help me know that I don’t have to allow anyone to shame or badger me into religious beliefs. If they confuse that with the spirituality available in recovery, help me give their issue back to them. Help me discover and develop my own spirituality, a path that works for me. Guide me, with Divine Wisdom, as I grow spiritually

    • Profile picture of Lindy
      Lindy replied 1 years, 2 months ago

      I’m a Christian… and also addicted. I don’t believe we should ever ‘push’ anyone into religious beliefs… I believe that we ought to display our faith in our actions of encouragement.. and giving hope… not in pushing… God will help us if the only prayer we’re able at the moment is to say ‘Help Me Please’…. Take care Lindy

      • Profile picture of tony
        tony replied 1 years, 2 months ago

        Lindy thank you for your response. I agree with you to a point. I have a higher power that I choose to call God. Ironically I hear people(addicts) “Let go and Let god”. Okay then what? I see it another way. My higher power will provide me with guidance and tools I need to gain and remain “clean”. I can’t find anywhere it says my higher power will do the work. I have found my road to extended abstinence in a 12 step program…GA. I had tried to many times to remember to “quit” and I did quit and equal numberr times to “NO AVAIL”; I COULDN’T STAY STOPPED'”. I spiraled over and over again. I Begged, I Pleaded, I damned God over and over for not carry out the “promise” if I let go and let god, why wasn’t stopping and staying stopped. The and answer was right in front of me, I couldn’t do it alone! Simple I needed to give up, find a way that was right in front of me ergo my higher power had showed me the way. I could go on and on today I live a gambling free life in remission. My higher power gave me the way and the will to put this terrible disease/addiction in remission. So yes Lindy there is a higher power. If you ask you must be ready to do the work. Of course there is always the other alternative; try to do it one’s own way failing time after time. I wish you the very best in your journey. For the record I AM A GA JUNKY. i VOW AT LEAST FOR TODAY TO NOT GAMBLE.