We realised just how simple it can be. We had no literature or posters, and even the teas and coffees missed the meeting last night.

None of that stopped us from having a good meeting. Our focus was on the third step, and revisiting this as a sponsor, I realised how others’ journeys differ and how, at times, the spiritual aspect and God stuff can be a stumbling block.

I come from an evangelical family, and as someone growing up with that religious attitude towards sex, there were certainly some unhelpful aspects that further alienated me from getting help. The sin and shame culture attached to sexuality in the church painted the loving father of my faith as a strict disciplinarian and almost some sort of angry voyeur with plenty of wrath and punishment just waiting to strike. Not a great view to have of a loving God.

In recovery, I felt that God was waiting to meet me as my loving father. Not in a church meeting, but in a room full of broken folks opening up their innermost being and living vulnerably. People don’t argue about doctrine and who has the right way or the correct take on what God and higher power are; we simply get on with it according to our understanding.

I always love to hear others explain their experience and beliefs about a higher power. Not once do I ever feel the need to get a Bible out and morph into Ned Flanders.

I shared how looking back on this process, I really feel that this aspect of the program can be a tough one to navigate. It’s a common conversation point in program calls, and I try to reserve the specifics of my own Christocentric faith, instead opting for generalisations and parables.

In my experience, regardless of my belief, the power only started working when I became willing to do the basics.

When I make calls to other addicts, I establish a genuine loving connection with others, and it empowers me to be grateful, helpful, and listen. This fosters empathy and care in a deeper and more meaningful way, and thus I find a power greater than self!

When I give of my time in service to others as a sponsor, I see them overcome obstacles and make huge leaps of progress toward a life they may not have thought possible when they first grabbed a chair and listened to shares. The strength they can see in me isn’t my own, and thus we find a power greater than self!

When I saw we needed a group in our city and I wrestled with the feelings of unworthiness and doubts of whether someone else should undertake the service, it grew from a seed of an idea to a growing community of beautiful recovering souls, and thus I found a power greater than self!

I could go on, but I think it’s clear what the message is here. A wise friend and someone I love very much shared how they feel when they guide people through the steps: they feel something rising up from within like God is working through them.

I remember the song from school assemblies, ‘Make me a channel of your peace.’

The message here is pretty powerful and seems to be rare in our present-day culture.

Charity used to be the word for love, and now it’s almost a corporate body to practice compassion that we could all radiate.

Even empathy and consideration seem more political than human at times with the numerous causes and issues that people can be selective and exclusive with.

In recovery, we have a higher power whose love is unconditional and restorative, and we get to live life with a transition ‘From Shame to Grace.’

Our virtuosity in recovery needn’t be for show or display but for the audience of one as we don’t seek credit or recognition.

The ‘Just for Today’ card says, ‘I will do someone a good turn and not get found out.’ If anyone knows of it, it will not count.

Our recovery is a miracle that can be contagious, and its only requirement is to be willing.