Wisdom For The Journey: Two Are Better Than One

 Leaving behind a lifestyle of self-centered isolation and coming into community with others is both a gift and a challenge. 

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT)

 Clearly God knows that we need one another in order to successfully get ahead.  We need to be encouraged by one another's experience, strength, and hope and learn from each other.  We need the mentoring and challenging of sponsors and those who have walked this road ahead of us and picked up useful lessons.  We need the strength that comes from both giving and receiving comfort and understanding when times are tough. We need to hear warnings when we are going astray and affirmation when we have achieved tough goals. 

God's view is that we need one another just like a body needs each of its parts. We are called to work, pray, and worship together.  If we try to live distant or disconnected, we harm not only ourselves but others.  While we are all growing and learning how to let go of character defects it is difficult to tolerate each other, but God will surely help us.  We will grow stronger more quickly when we do our part in the community, together with others, as God planned. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your gift of my brothers and sisters in recovery.  Help me to see where I am meant to be and to be a useful member of my family and the recovery community.  Amen

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