Do you Hear what I Hear?

One of my undergraduate degrees is in History. It was always my favorite subject. It was the font of my understanding of all things. Early on, I was very interested in figuring out how we got where we as a people are today. He who does not learn from history is cursed to repeat it. What a nice comparative to the process of recovery.

My blog spends a lot of time addressing the individual steps and specific spiritual tools in our program of recovery. The steps are the program; the tools are how it is lived. The tools are the action directives that bring forth actual change in our world. They’re the stuff that works when nothing else does.

I can ill-afford to close my mind to my life history. I should never forget what a wretched being I am when I choose to drink and pursue selfish endeavors. I must always remember how frightening the whole experience is. I must develop the deepest, most sincere respect for my disease and what it will do to me if I am not actively engaged in recovery practices. Most of all, I know I will never forget what it was like to live without God in my life on a daily basis. I was freaked out all the time and scared to death. I was anxious and panicky. I was constantly experiencing self-inflicted pain. I was all alone.

My history will always be my history. My history brought me here. I am a product of my history. But today, I hear God tell me that history is changing. The reason I have peace with my past is that I have accepted that it was exactly what it needed to be for me to learn what I needed to know today (when all regret and resentment evaporates). God has asked me to have the courage to be who He has asked me to be this day. God tells me what I need to know whether I want to hear it or not. God tells it like it is. That’s why I keep my ears and eyes open all the time because the messages and blessings are everywhere whenever I have the courage to cast my eyes upon them. At least, that’s what I hear when I choose to listen to God. What do you hear?

Thank you
Jim

James A. Francetich is a freelance writer and author. The opinions expressed are solely of the author and do not represent any community based recovery programs, private or public entities or any governmental agencies.