Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬

Hopefully, our time in recovery changes us. Isn’t this why we came here in the first place?

Hopefully, we leave the trail we had been following and begin walking a better path, the right path, the good path.

In this rearrangement of focus, we must fix our eyes on something. It becomes a bitter pull to swallow if in our confusion we are also unconvinced that change is possible. Sadness will breed discontent and it’s a short path back to our addiction from there.

But we have an immense advantage today. There are thousands of easily accessible meetings and people and stories that share two common themes: a hopeless affliction and a way out.

And there is always change. We are drawn to it. We need to be fed by the stories and encouraged by the transformations we both hear about and witness ourselves.

This business of transformation is on full display within recovery rooms and conversations everywhere. The old is gone, the new has come. God has worked in and through the most unlikely of circumstances and personalities.

When I doubt, it diminishes the impact in my own life. I wipe away the cloud of memory separating my current full life with the shell of existence I came here with.

God is in the business of change. It starts from within, and it works best when the ground is fertile, willing and broken. The change is more remarkable this way.

I’d probably choose the non-addicted path if I could do it over. Sticking to the path is a lot better than veering off and coming back. But thank God we can come back.

God, guard my steps and help me cherish the new life I’ve been given.