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
As we navigate our paths, it is crucial to remember the profound impact our choices have on not just our immediate lives, but generations to come. Each decision we make sets off a cascade of consequences, like a line of carefully placed dominos. If we practice walking the Red Road and focus on our spiritual development today, our descendants are more likely to follow suit, inheriting the same principles and values.
Narcotics Anonymous offers only one promise and that is freedom from active addiction, the solution that eluded us for so long. N.A. is inherently about simplicity, reminding us that while others may achieve financial success, true wealth is found in the spiritual riches we gain in recovery. Even one day clean is a miracle and a profound display of spiritual strength.
Tradition Ten teaches us clarity and simplicity. Narcotics Anonymous is a simple program for complicated people. By avoiding unnecessary controversies and focusing on our message, we maintain an atmosphere of recovery for everyone. Our N.A. message is clear: any of us can stop using, stay stopped, and find a new way to live. Keeping our recovery simple allows us to stay clean and free from the complicated mess that once entangled our lives.
N.A. 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. Let us remember that our personal development and recovery not only liberate us but also light a path for future generations.
Today, I thank the Creator and the God of my understanding for my freedom from active addiction. I recognize my spiritual journey as a gift beyond material wealth, and I carry forward this legacy of awakening for the Seventh Generation yet to come.