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 THE TWELVE STEPS FOR EVERYONE Rev. Dr. Ben Gosden of Historic Trinity Church on Telfair Square in Savannah chose the weeks of Christian Lent this year to explore the 12 Steps of recovery. The 12 Steps were first created in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, men who both suffered from the disease of addiction. Over these many decades, the 12 steps have been adopted by countless peer support groups that help people recover from substance abuse disorders, behavioral addictions and sometimes co-occurring mental health conditions.
Though Christian in their origin, the 12 Steps have been universally embraced by the world’s major religions.
The 12 Steps have a strong spiritual component and their wisdom can be of value to everyone. In this issue, Rev. Dr. Gosden speaks to the first three steps:
1. Powerlessness
2. Believing that a higher power can be of help, and
3. Deciding to turn your control over to a higher power
“We are all powerless over something,” says Rev. Dr. Gosden, “and we cover up our powerlessness because vulnerability is scary. Some of us work too much. Others want to control other people. Still others fear that they will be found wanting or not good enough. The 12 step program is a spiritual program. That means that believing in a higher power of your definition can help restore you to sanity if you are willing to turn your life over to that power for guidance. It is an act of trust and faith and it has worked for millions of people.” …“The greatest thing we can do during the Lenten season is to ask for help.” Rev. Dr. Gosden serves on the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Addiction and Recovery Coalition.
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Thoughts about STEP ONE: To admit that we cannot control the power of alcohol (over ourselves or someone we love) is HUGE. Our tendency is to come to that admission only after trying everything else we possibly can. Once we admit our helplessness, we can turn our attention to the task of managing our own lives, which have become unmanageable because alcohol is a powerful and insidious disease. All efforts to control it in our own lives or the life of someone we love is totally fruitless. Admitting that we are powerless is such a relief from tension that improvement becomes possible. Though the road to chemical or emotional sobriety may be a challenge, it is possible, while controling the power of alcohol is not. Adapted from pgs. 24-25 pf the Alanon Pamphlet “Alcoholism, the Family Disease.”
