“These are our times and our responsibilities. Every human being has a sacred duty to protect the welfare of our Mother Earth, from whom all life comes. In order to do this, we must recognize the enemy - the one within us. We must begin with ourselves…” - Leon Shenandoah, ONONDAGA
The outside is merely a reflection of our insides. My mind is designed to tell me that I’m not crazy for thinking what I am thinking. Even if I have angry thoughts, my mind is giving me excuses and reasons why it is OK to think what I’m thinking. I need to be knowledgeable about the laws of harmony and balance. I cannot twist the laws to serve me, but I can adjust my life to serve the laws. This is the law - I am here to serve the Earth. The Earth is not here for me to misuse and abuse.
Open-Mindedness Leads to Understanding
Our fellowship matures and develops as each of us brings our increasing understanding to the table; we grow from one another’s experience when we are willing to share and to listen with an open mind. When we come into recovery, some of us dust off a faith tradition that we were raised with. Others develop their own framework for spiritual beliefs. Those of us with an anti-religious bias bristled at seeing “God” sprinkled throughout the Steps–what have we gotten ourselves into? We were relieved when we learned that we could pursue any kind of spirituality that suited us.
As we learn about the Traditions, the importance of making room for everyone becomes clear. We do our best to avoid lingo associated with any particular path when we share in meetings. We try to convey our experiences with spiritual growth in language that’s inclusive, understandable, and respectful to those with different beliefs. When we use fellowship language to express our deepening spirituality, we strengthen the link between our spiritual lives and what we’ve gained from living the Twelve Steps.
Over time, we all make peace with the fact that spirituality is central to the fellowship program. We each arrive at our own sense of spirituality that works. We listen to members share the integral part their spiritual awakenings have played in cementing their foundation of recovery. Our sponsors, friends, and predecessors offer their insights on our spiritual, not religious, program and we gain a deeper understanding of our own beliefs as we work Steps and apply Traditions. Intimate conversations help us articulate what we believe and allow us to see how much our paths converge.
Our spiritual growth enables us to listen to others with an open mind. This leads to a greater understanding of ourselves, others, and the world around us. We keep coming back and we see how this program works in each other’s lives. We have faith, above all, in the process of recovery we’ve found in the fellowship.
I will listen with an open mind and an open heart when other members share their experiences with spirituality, coming from a place of understanding and curiosity.
In unifying these teachings, we recognize the sacred duty to protect Mother Earth and the importance of personal growth and spiritual awakening. Our fellowship believes in listening with an open mind and heart, valuing the diverse experiences and wisdom of others. By aligning our lives with the laws of harmony and balance, we honor our spiritual journey and contribute to the well-being of the Earth. Let us serve the Earth and each other with respect and understanding, fostering unity and spiritual growth within our fellowship.