Everyone at Livengrin Foundation hopes you are enjoying your summer!
We all traveled different paths that led to the doors of Livengrin. Many of us weren’t so keen on the idea of giving up the best friend we found in substances. However, by seizing this first opportunity, and accepting change and moving forward, we were unknowingly taking our first leap into recovery.
In many people’s pasts, there were times that goals were put off for whatever reason (kids, career, marriage, etc.). All too often, we put our behavior in front of our goals, rather than making our goals our priority. This is one of the ways that our addiction shows its ugly face in our lives and to our families. The opportunities we put off before may be gone. Concern about future opportunities takes the focus off of the moment and things may pass us. Doing nothing but waiting on an opportunity is a set-up for failure. Faith without works is dead…
The Third Step has us make a decision to turn our will over. For many of us, G.O.D.’s will can be as simple as being open-minded and seizing the opportunities when they are in front of us. But, what are opportunities? These can vary from person to person. Opportunity covers a vast array. What can be an opportunity for one person, could be a diversion for others. You must determine what opportunity looks like for you. You may not find it if you’re not looking for it or not being open-minded. You are opportunity!!! It’s up to YOU to seek them. Many people wait for opportunity to show up. Recovering people make themselves available to say “yes”.
Opportunities are present throughout every day. You have the chance and choice on a daily basis to not think negative thoughts, rise above, to help and, most of all, be kind to others.
Often, opportunity comes in disguise. When we have trying times and situations, or moments where we do not succeed; these are NOT failures. We can choose to look at them as such. But, they are really learning experiences of how not to do something again.
From now on, with recovery in our lives, we choose to look at everything in our life as an opportunity. We take every interaction, use the good parts, and leave the rest behind. Today, we make a choice to do the next right thing.
The Parable of the Drowning Man
A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to G.O.D. for help.
Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you." The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to G.O.D. and he is going to save me." So the rowboat went on.
Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you." To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to G.O.D. and he is going to save me. I have faith." So the motorboat went on.
Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, "Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety." To this the stranded man again replied, "No thanks, I'm praying to G.O.D. and he is going to save me. I have faith." So, the helicopter reluctantly flew away.
Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with G.O.D., at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!" To this G.O.D. replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"
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