RECOVERY: THE JOURNEY THAT BECOMES AN ADVENTURE
As we hear so often recovery from addiction starts with the first step. With that step we were off on a journey. It is a necessary journey to save our lives and then to change our lives. It is also a difficult journey for it requires that we leave behind so much of what has made up our lives for so very long. It also requires us to follow a new path that we have never seen before-with uncertain twists and turns and-especially early on-a path shrouded in the fog of doubt, confusoin, and fear.
Yet this is the journey we start to take and continue to follow. This we do for we do not let fear conquer faith but let faith conquer fear. It is this very faith that keeps us on the path. As we walk along this path we begin to discover that it is the path of freedom, hope, and peace. Even as the journey remains difficult, we become more determined. We recognize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. We begin to experience freedom from the past, peace in the present, and hope for the future. Sometimes, it is true, all we can do is trudge along. But we do this now because we have already begun to experience the benefits as the blessings that they are and look down the path with an eagerness for more.
It is at this point that we can say our journey is no longer that alone, but now has become an adventure. The fog of doubt, confusion, and fear has lifted. It has been replaced with the sunlight of God's love. That light begins to shine more brightly so that we might see this new path of freedom, peace and hope more clearly. This loving light reveals God's majestic mountains of new possibilities to be climbed and new valleys of God's silent serenity wherein to find rest.
And so we travel on-no more in doubt, confusion, and fear-but with determination, enthusiasm and energy. Hand in hand with our God, and with our sisters and brothers, the journey begun alone had turned into the adventure of a lifetime. It is now the adventure that is changing our lives-and even more giving us the blessed opportunity to offer the change of freedom, peace, and hope to our sisters and brothers-one day at a time.
Yes, it is true-God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves!
Fr. Joe McDonough
It is with much joy and gratitude that the Hezekiah Movement celebrates the return of summer! The past months have been a time of many blessing for us. Most important, was the opening of our first Island of Hope. It is through your great generosity and support that this has happened and now more and more people are getting help in their efforts to be free from addiction. We are most thankful to you for all the help you have given. Your help in the past has been so important for us to get this far.
Besides the blessing of our new Island of Hope, we have experienced a growth in the Hezekiah Movement retreats. These retreats are providing wonderful spiritual experiences for so many in recovery who have never had such oportunities before. In addiction, more men and women are joining in with us throughout the week for prayer and meditation and they are finding suupport and encouragement as they go forward in their new life of recovery from addiction. Again all this is possible because of your care and generosity.
Your help means so much to so many. I pray that you will be filled with Easter joy. May this Summer be a time of freedom, peace, hope and new life.
In Gratitude and Peace.
Fr. Joe