Grey Book Reflection
If we do not maintain our spiritual condition daily, some of us find the resulting pain and confusion lead to a return to drugs and our old way of life.
Gray Book, p. 144 (Chapter Nine, Lines 27-29)
Spirituality is one of the last Gifts we receive in this Program. Ironically it's one of the first things we lose in the relapse process. Our Eleventh Step states, "We have found that our spiritual condition is the basis for a successful recovery that offers unlimited growth." Offers, implies that it's not a given. We have to do the work if we want to Recover.
Chapter Ten states, "Narcotics Anonymous offers only one promise and that is freedom from active addiction. " The Promise of Freedom and the Message of Hope requires us to practice a Living Program. Spiritual complacency can begin the relapse process.
We get loaded at the end of a relapse, not in the beginning. The daily reprieve we are offered is dependent on this daily maintenance.
When we first get Clean, we enjoy the Freedom from active addiction. We are finally Free from our self-imposed prison. To stay Free, we have to have an active change of our attitudes and behavior.
We can't think our way into good Living. The Steps enable us to Live our way into good thinking. Our Spiritual Awakening must continue to be progressive.
Recovery is an uphill Journey, if we pause, we may backslide. Unfortunately some of our members pause in their Recovery and some will return to active addiction. Our Literature tells us that, " a whole new life opens up.
In this way, we do recover "
We will continue with this Program of action. We will continue to work a twenty-four-hour Program.