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Urgency
joyful suffering and my counter-intuition

TRUTH
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:2-3
REFLECTION
Intuitively, I know this is true. But I don’t pursue it. I don’t lean into it. I don’t welcome it.
Most of the time, I still avoid difficulty and look for ease. I still think something’s wrong if I encounter hardship or resistance. I still equate trials with negativity instead of joy.
How much more so when I was first sobering up.
In those placid days I was consumed by thoughts of my own well-being.
My opinions returned swiftly, my entitlement raged, my sensitivity was at an all-time high.
From drunkenness to soberness was a short step. But from skewed thinking to sober mindedness has taken years of concerted, slow, meandering, steady progress.
Today, though, I have the benefit of a track record that is up and to the right. Zoom in and you’ll see the myriad ups and downs, but on the whole, sobriety and the pursuit of God has produced steadfastness for sure.
The price has been discomfort.
Temporary—usually. But this has been the only way for progress. Discomfort. Doing what I either don’t want to do or don’t want to do now.
Putting things off is my biggest culprit.
Immediacy, though, especially in the spiritual practices is critical.
What I put off doing today is ten times easier to continue putting off tomorrow.
God, give me the urgency to pursue my next trial.
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NEXT
When you’re ready, here are some tools for you:
Book List (amazon link)
Some of my favorite reads related to recovery and/or wrestling with faith.4th Step Guide (free download)
A PDF with instructions and worksheets for a thorough 4th step. Straight from the Big Book. Fearlessness not included.12-Step Christianity (YouTube)
My thoughts on the parallels between discipleship and sponsorship.

KEEP LEANING FORWARD
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