Recovery is a journey, not necessarily a destination. We as humans enjoy having a goal, a destination, something for which to look forward. The anticipation of reward begins early in life: expectation of a journey to grandpa\’s farm, graduation from high school and other milestones in growing. Yet, we find the journey of life continues throughout our mortality. Such are the steps. Like a tree growing with all the steps of the branches developing simultaneously throughout the perennial plant\’s lifetime, so the steps of recovery are a journey of expanding horizons, knowledge and application. Each day after the drug and alcohol treatment center for recovery supports the next. Tomorrow cannot come without today and yesterday. So too the steps build into a seamless structure of recovery. To paraphrase a favorite meditation: \’Each day well lived can make yesterday a dream of serenity and tomorrow a vision of hope.\’ For myself, while focusing upon the task at hand today, I need guard against drifting away to the resentments and guilt of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow. Do well the job of now and all will grow in mutual support of recovery.

The final steps of 12 step recovery fit hand-in-glove, together in protection and support for my journey of recovery. A daily inventory not only leads to appropriate amends where needed, and good self feelings, these actions also move us daily into the light of that serenity every human craves. Take care of this day\’s faults and mistakes today. Admitting one\’s shortcomings is not pleasant. But, \”…pain was the touchstone of all spiritual progress.\” (page 93 of Twelve Steps And Twelve Traditions). The word \”spirituality\” keeps coming up in recovery. For the Twelve Steps are a spiritual program. The disease lives in our head, recovery is in our heart.

For many of us, the revelation of mistakes and shortcomings comes in that quiet time of meditation. Taking time to reflect upon the day and thank my God for another 24 hours of sobriety gives opportunity for honesty with myself. Only by candidly examining my own actions am I doing my part to keep the \’me\’ in harmony with others. Over the last eight plus years at the drug and alcohol treatment center, I have ministered to many people of dramatically different life journeys, all with diversity of faults, failings, as well as saintly acts. Though quite diverse, these people, without exception, all have loved and needed to belong, even though some outwardly denied this human desire. Needing to belong, living in fellowship and community, these are our humanity. Making timely amends for my wrongs keeps me from becoming separated by resentment.

In my career in the United States Air Force, as a young officer I was privileged to serve under the command of and fly with a former prisoner of the North Vietnamese in the Vietnam War. On the rare occasion he would speak of his experience, he talked about extended periods of solitary confinement. This man recalled the fear of being alone, separated and forgotten. In the colonel\’s case, his separation was not by his choice. But when we are separated by fault of ourselves, the choice to mend the breach is ours. In separation due to resentment we are not only at odds with a core human need, our serenity is tested if not jeopardized. If the grieved party, however, does not accept our amends, we have at least done our part. We can be at peace with our effort.

Very recently, I delivered a Sunday homily around the words \”action and belonging.\” Our step work is a labor of action both to our benefit and others. We all need to belong. When disharmony exists between myself and other humans, one of my human ties of belonging is strained; and these threads of connection are indeed fragile. In meditation I ask my God for the humility of amends and courage to take action.

Fellowship is a key part of our lives. The Twelve Steps from the drug and alcohol treatment center provide support for the daily life journey in sobriety as well as the joy of fellowship in harmony. The quiet time with my God in review of the day\’s actions, both good and bad, honors the spirit, calms the emotions, and refreshes the body.

Go to www.valleyhope.org to learn more.

Chaplain Bill Kornovich

Go to http://www.valleyhope.org to learn more.
Chaplain Bill Kornovich

Author Bio: Go to www.valleyhope.org to learn more.

Chaplain Bill Kornovich

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: drug and alcohol treatment centers, alcohol rehab, drug rehab, drug rehab centers