Look behind you. See your sons and your daughters. They are your future. Look farther and see your sons’ and your daughters’ children and their children’s children even unto the Seventh Generation. That’s the way we were taught. Think about it: you yourself are a Seventh Generation.
—Leon Shenandoah, ONONDAGA
The Creator designed us with a free will. That means we function from choices and consequences. It is important that we practice thinking about consequences before we make decisions about choices. Every choice I make is like setting up dominos one after the other that produce consequences. Not just for me but also for my children and for the children that are unborn. My choices and decisions today will have consequences for seven generations. For example, if I work on my own spiritual development and I walk the Red Road, the odds are that my children will. They will marry and their children will follow the Red Road and so will my grandchildren even up to the seventh generation. This will happen because of the choices and decisions that I make today.
Simplicity Is Key!
Clarity and simplicity are keys to our message in the Fellowship. Our guiding message is a promise of freedom from active addiction.
The principle of simplicity is reflected in our tradition: Addicts have opinions, but the Fellowship does not. Topics like politics and religion create unnecessary controversy and conflict. While civic involvement and participation in our faith communities may certainly help us as individuals to get and stay clean, the Fellowship is mute on these topics. To maintain an atmosphere of recovery for everyone, we do our best to leave potential distractions at the door.
Relatedly, here’s a good one that we’ve heard often: “The Fellowship is a simple program for complicated people.” And then there’s this gem: “Opinions are like belly buttons. Everybody’s got one–but that doesn’t mean they’re useful.” While that statement may ring true, it’s not a Fellowship “opinion,” so let’s move straightaway to our message.
Our message is clear and simple. Any of us can stop using and stay stopped. Our obsession to use will dissipate. And we can find a new way to live our lives. Freedom from active addiction is our only promise.
The program of the Fellowship has enough to keep us busy–no need to overcomplicate it. We have Steps, Traditions, and Concepts–twelve of each. We have spiritual principles. We have service, literature, and our Higher Power. We have a vision of making the Fellowship accessible to addicts around the world. And we have each other. We need each other to stay clean and to find freedom from active addiction and the complicated mess that goes along with it. Keep it simple.
One disease, one program, one promise.
The Fellowship is enough to keep me clean and free. I’m grateful for all my human complexities, for the outside support I may have, and for the activities and worlds I engage with. But I need to keep my recovery simple. I can commit to that for my own healing–as well as for everyone else who’s seeking freedom in the room with me today.
In our journey, combining the wisdom of the Native teachings and the simplicity of the Fellowship, we create a path to spiritual fulfillment and well-being that not only benefits us but also the generations to come. By making mindful choices and staying true to the uncomplicated principles of recovery, we ensure a brighter future for the Seventh Generation and beyond.