Several days ago I had a God-encounter with a young woman
who has known struggles in her life. Having just moved, she was already trying
to make connections that would help her in her journey of recovery. I was not
one of those intentional connections; we just happened to be sitting in
adjacent chairs getting pedicures.
She had a strong feeling that this time her recovery needed
to be permanent. Mainly I had listened to her, but when she said this, I spoke
up to say that in my experience, and from what I know of 12-step programs,
thinking of something so large as “permanent” can be what leads us right back
to that from which we are trying to recover. Each day, each moment, each
decision is all we can truly face at any one time.
That is why even keeping our marriage commitments—“until we
are parted by death”—actually has to be day-by-day, each morning and each night
renewing that commitment. When we stumble in our recovery or our commitment,
everything is not lost. It is at the moment when we catch ourselves, realizing
what we have done, that we can come to a greater awareness. We can learn, and
once again step forward stronger perhaps now than we were before.
p.s. Another part of reflecting on this God-encounter has to
do with the work I have to get done by October 15—turning in the draft of
theological chapter for my DMin paper. Looking at it as a whole is
overwhelming, so I will be addressing little bites of it at a time. For the
next month, you may see me less. I will re-emerge after I turn it in. Until
then, keep me in your prayers, and keep all of us who deal with some form of
recovery in our lives in prayer.
Psalm 37:23
Our
steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way; though we
stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.
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