One of the biggest blessings I have enjoyed in the past few years is the privilege of knowing several people in the recovery community. I recently wrote that we are all in recovery. While I do still believe that is true, I also know there is a component of recovery from alcohol and drugs that is its own thing. I’ve learned a lot from the recovery community about how to relate as human beings to one another. Here are some things the recovery community teaches me.
If you want to leave your addiction behind, you can’t do it alone. You’re welcome in that space. Notice I said if you ‘want to’. I love the offering of a ‘desire chip’ - it’s yours if you want to be sober for 24 hours.
The ability to live a sober life lies in consistency. Consistency is valued. The people I know meet every day. Some Christian people can barely get together once a week. Not this community. The meetings are every day. The rehearsal of the steps and traditions is every day. The reminders are every day. This is a battle won ‘one day at a time’.
It is serious. There is coffee. There is conversation. But this is not just a get-together. It is a serious, life-changing, and often life-saving business.
It is seriously supportive. There is cheering for one another. There are recognitions for weeks, months, and years of sobriety. These joyful moments say to all participants, we are behind you.
This is where you remove the masks. The practice of identifying with and confessing the specific nature of each person’s battle is offered in connection with one’s name. No one in the room is there to hide their struggle. It’s out in the open. This is real talk.
Relapse does not result in rejection. Does anyone believe that an alcohol or drug addiction is left behind because of meeting attendance? This is not just a struggle for a day or a week, it is a lifetime. Sometimes people fail to maintain sobriety. This is not a cause of rejection, but it is a learning opportunity. Get up and go get that desire chip, friend.
See the smiles, hear the conversation, and understand the results of sober living. The examples present in each meeting remind everyone that a sober life is possible.
I guess I say that I’m learning these things from the recovery community because I often did not see them in my church community. I have learned, though, that to build the community of Christ, we should emphasize some Biblical and practical matters:
You can’t do it alone. We need each other.
Pursue the Jesus life with consistency.
Take your Christian disciplines seriously.
Look for ways to support others in their Jesus walk.
Masks do not serve us well. Find someone to be honest with.
Mistakes do not mean we are a lost cause. God runs to meet prodigals.
Engage in spiritual life with those who demonstrate it well.
These things totally remove us from the “what does the church do for me” mentality and turn it into a place where I’m doing something for someone else. I have learned a lot from the recovery community. Now to put what I’ve learned into action.
Thanks for reading. If you find a family member or yourself in a struggle with addiction, please reach out to someone at places like: