“Hope knows no fear. Hope dares to blossom even inside the abysmal abyss. Hope secretly feeds and strengthens promise.”-Sri Chinmoy
A new life begins when we stand in the darkness and not only see a ray of light emerging in the distance but experience a profound sense of relief and comfort in the core of our being. At a deep inner level, we recognize the light which brings us home to our greater self. A light that makes a way possible when none was clear.
Hope is the belief that something will turn out well. It is a sense of certainty that everything works for our betterment. For some in recovery, the seeds of hope begin to take hold when we enter ‘the rooms’ of a twelve-step program. We watch the faces of people who are smiling and happy. We realize we’ve come to a turning point in our own lives. The haze begins to clear and we start to know the future holds promise. Sometimes, we are challenged to look upon our life circumstances as hopeful. Yet, we hear others explain how miracles were born from their difficulties.
When we listen to others share their experience, strength, and hope, we come to understand our current pain won’t last forever. We begin to understand the value of a faith that sustains us in any and all situations. We learn to cultivate the kind of faith which allows us to move forward through life’s challenges with confidence and certainty. The sense that better days ahead take hold in our hearts and minds. To continue on the path of recovery, we must have hope of success. The ability to get and stay sober is contingent on persistence in applying the principles in our daily lives.
Hope and faith are blended together in our lives. While hope may be a dream of something we want or need, only faith brings our dreams into reality. Without faith, hope is nothing more than an ineffective dream.
With faith, we are impelled to reach our full potential. With faith, we become productive members of society. We discover a greater purpose in our lives. Best of all, we learn how our experience can help someone else in the future.
In the words of the 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet, Rumi:
“Once the seed of faith takes root
it cannot be blown away,
even by the strongest wind-
Now that’s a blessing”
This article was written for ‘All 4 Your Addiction Recovery’ magazine.
It’s on page 5 of the Aug/Sept issue 2013
Click here to view.
