We all know our world to be imperfect. It was perfectly created, as were we in the beginning. Adam and Eve, the first humans had it made in the shade of Eden, they lacked no good thing and lived in perfect fellowship with God and each other. But choice to continue in that way or not was allowed in their midst, in the form of a serpent and a tree.

The tale is told often of the choices made and the consequences borne of that choice. We have been living them out ever since. Just like this world and our broken lives, our recoveries are not perfect either. Recovery is a walk, not a destination or arrival. We don’t perform each step to perfection, except perhaps step one, to admit our powerlessness. The rest is all us trying our best, with the help of God to step up to the plate.

Those of us that struggle with perfectionism are smiling and nodding our heads, because we want to carefully walk out each part of our recovery within the lines of the steps, and not miss or overstep any part.

But we are made as organic, living beings, in God’s image. Let’s not get wound up in some of the very same habits in recovery that got us into recovery in the first place. Letting the spirit of God flow through your recovery process and allowing it to pull the roots of the steps down deep will afford you more benefit than checking boxes or crossing items off the list.

Thus, I know I find myself at times in places in my recovery process where I know the perfect and right answer according to the 12 steps is one thing, but the practical answer in a broken situation is another. It is then that I take it in my prayer and meditation time to God, and ask the spirit to speak and move, and guide my steps. I take the path the spirit leads me on, and own my choice by sharing it as appropriate with my accountability partner or group.

This is the very essence of what a living recovery is, what the goal, if there is to be one, is all about. To use the tools and lessons I have learned to work out difficult situations in ways that honor God, others and myself. To maintain healthy boundaries for myself and my family. To continue to grow in my knowledge of God’s will for my life and my next step in my recovery journey.

Wishing you love and peace today in His name.