The 23rd Psalm states that the Good Shepard can restore our soul. What is our soul? Our soul is our unique human self, created in God’s image. Our soul is our thinking, feeling and acting. Addiction, in ourselves or someone we love, robs us of our soul. We are not in our right mind, because our minds are focused outside ourselves. We lose touch with us. We are trying to control what we have no power to control. Addiction is more powerful than we are. We are now in a bondage that creates insanity. The good news of Step 2 states that a power greater than us can restore our sanity. And that power is greater than the power of the addiction. We are set free.
What is sanity? Soundness or health of mind, balance of emotions and correct choices of how to act. Doing something over and over again expecting a different result, is insanity. When our thinking and feelings are in agreement, then our choice of how to act is correct. The 12th Step describes a sane person. One who has had a spiritual awakening, one who offers help to others and one who doing their life well. Restore means that there was something that was lost. Resorting means we get something back. We get our original crested, special self back. What was stolen by addiction? Our sane self. Our created unique self.
The Psalm teaches the way back to restoration is by resting in the Shepard’s nurturing provisions. Green pastures and still waters. We stop and rest. Our self striving for our soul’s restoration fails. We can’t, but He can. The unmanageable striving to control of the addiction is evidence of the loss of sanity.
The 3rd Step teaches that we must make a decision to ask for His help. His care for our life and His control of our will. We choose His ways, letting go of ours. We choose to rest in His provisions one day at a time.
Sanity is restored.
Choices….
