“Just maybe…”
“There is one thing more than anything else that will defeat us in our recovery; this
is an attitude of indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles.”
Basic Text, p, 18
When we first came to NA, many of us had great difficulty accepting the spiritual
principles underlying this program-and for good reason. No matter how we’d tried to
control our addiction, we’d found ourselves powerless. We grew angry and frustrated
with anyone who suggested there was hope for us, because we knew better.
Spiritual ideas may have had some bearing on other peoples’ lives, but not on ours.
Despite our indifference or intolerance toward spiritual principles, we were drawn to
Narcotics Anonymous. There, we met other addicts. They’d been where we’d been,
powerless and hopeless, yet they’d found a way not only to stop using but to live and
enjoy life clean. They spoke of the spiritual principles that had pointed the way for
them to this new life of recovery. For them, these principles were not just theories
but a part of their practical experience. Yes, we had good reason to be skeptical, but
these spiritual principles spoken of by other NA members really seemed to work.
Once we admitted this, we didn’t necessarily accept every spiritual idea we heard.
But we did start to think that, if these principles had worked for others, just maybe
they’d work for us, too. For a beginning, that willingness was enough.
Just for today: Just maybe the spiritual principles I hear spoken of in NA might work
for me. I am willing, at least, to open my mind to the possibility.