If, after a period of time, we find ourselves in trouble with our recovery, we have probably stopped doing one or more of the things that helped us in the earlier stages of our recovery.
Basic Text, p. 95
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Surrender is just for newcomers, right? Wrong!
After weve been around awhile, some of us succumb to a condition particular to oldtimers. We think we know something about recovery, about God, about NA, about ourselvesand we do. The problem is, we think we know enough, and we think that merely knowing is enough. But its what we learn and what we do after we think we know it all that really makes the difference.
Conceit and complacency can land us in deep trouble. When we find that applying the principles on our own power just isnt working, we can practice what worked for us in the beginning: surrender. When we find we are still powerless, our lives again unmanageable, we need to seek the care of a Power greater than ourselves. And when we discover that self-therapy isnt so therapeutic after all, we need to take advantage of the therapeutic value of one addict helping another.
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Just for today: I need guidance, support, and a Power beyond my own. I will go to a meeting, reach out to a newcomer, call my sponsor, pray to my Higher PowerI will do something that says, I surrender.
One of the most pertinent writings for me "complacency is the enemy of those with substantial clean time, if we are complacent for too long the recovery process then ceases. Can't write it any better than that!!! Progression of the disease is ongoing even during abstinence,,,,gotta keep doing the work to stay in recovery mode.........
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
I will keep you in prayer Dave,You know I can definitely Identify....stay focused..we are powerless over others and yes that includes our children.My 2 younger children started at 12,,,one in Diversion program(PINS) for few years, now 22 and just had baby ,graduating college with masters in teaching,what a turnaround and my son (25)who is now in recovery and working a program after 8 long years of Heroin addiction...God is good and has allowed us sanity through the previous long years of strife. We are all right where we are supposed to be now. My 45/46 year olds are "still alive and well"(Johnny Winter).....the Dead sang it "what a long strange trip its been!!!!
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
