Shaded

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬

It’s so easy to look at the imagery in passages like this and draw a direct comparison to our lives in recovery.

More than many people, we have the benefit of seeing the stark contrast between the drunk world and the sober world.

We see where we lived in darkness and now light.

This business of sin and Christ and all that religious stuff is prickly for some, but you have to hang your hat somewhere.

Why not have a firm foundation?

For the first few years of my sobriety, I subscribed generally to the faith I had been raised in and specifically to the actions of the 12 steps.

I found no incongruency and the steps gave me a framework for living one day at a time.

I still practice the steps and am grateful to have this spiritual toolkit.

But I’ve added back in the specifics of the Christian faith too.

I need depth and weight to this design for living. It’s not enough to just do the next right thing. It’s not enough to just carry the message.

To what end?

Sobriety is not enough.

Whoa, there…why isn’t sobriety enough? Isn’t that the entire goal when people get wrecked enough to pursue it?

Sure, it can be for a while. But what happens when you get sobriety, you get your life back, you get the stuff, the friendships, the jobs, the family…all the things?

Then what?

The steps themselves direct us specifically toward a relationship with God that can spark and grow and undercut every future decision and difficulty and joy that we will encounter.

The steps give us a fantastic toolset to approach God.

But we better step toward him.

God, draw near to me.

Cheers, Eamonn
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