Thanks!…

I love this line! Being in recovery has brought the excitement of the Spirit back into my life! It has reawakened what I had silenced for far too long! Why I like this line is because early in my recovery I didn’t like to share because I felt I had nothing to offer. I didn’t “feel” spiritual or “equal to” other addicts who had lived on the streets. Or in their cars. They had lost their homes. Their children. Themselves. But, I was told early on that it isn’t about how low I fell versus how low another fell. Recovery is not about comparing my story to another, seemingly worse story. It is about the journey we are on now. It is about being the same as the guy sitting next to me. It is about a community helping one another, without expecting anything in return. Sound familiar?

There are days when I can hardly stand still. I want to help the newcomer. I want to help the old-timer (lots of years clean, not an age). I want to help me by being open-minded. I want to help by not judging or comparing. Addicts or non-addicts. I want to be selfless. Without unrealistic expectations. With the Holy Spirit as my guide I can do anything! But, I must find those quiet times & listen, too. It’s a balancing act every minute of the day.

Anytime you mention or think about the Holy Spirit, such as you did here in your blog this day, it is always a direct communication with, and from, the Holy Spirit. There is no other origin of the Word of God, than from God Himself.

Consider what Paul, the apostle, said concerning this:
“I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit,” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

I wrote about it here in my column:
http://ww.examiner.com/x-41966-Holy-Spirit-Examiner~y2010m4d11-Did-the-Holy-Spirit-lead-you-here

“But I’m cautious to elevate my own inklings like they should be considered equal to the Bible. I guess I’ve been turned off that by people who act as if God is talking to them, specifically, verbally, via Blue Tooth all day long. I mean, I have a little room for the possibility that he does show up in person and speak audible words to them…but for some reason cuts me out of the in-person stuff.”

Two things struck me…

First, the Bible promises that the Spirit will be a comfort and a counselor – so for the Bible to be a cause of skepticism about the Spirit introduces a paradox worth examining.

Second, as a lifelong atheist who came to faith as an adult, I found your line about being “turned off by people who act as if God is talking to them” to sound remarkably similar to the thoughts I had when I was “turned off by people who act like their belief in God and the good they perceive themselves to do as a result is somehow more important than the good I do in the world.” I now believe that there were things there that I did not yet see. Now I see more – but fully recognize that my best understanding of my faith is a shadow of what is there for me if I continue to learn and endure.

I came to faith abruptly and am one of those people who have done things like sell my house and leave my career in response to the still small voice of the Spirit. I take no credit for it. It’s just the way it’s been for me since my conversion in 2003. That said, I believe it is there for anyone who submits, surrenders and obeys. The Bible makes outrageous promises. Far be it for me to decide they cannot be granted.