persons have visited this site since May 10, 2002
~ 2006 Form ~
When
It Works: 12 Basics
Twelve Principles of NA
"Sharing and caring is the active and passive
forms of love
that keeps us alive and allows God to use us as instruments."
N.A. Foundation
Group - Marietta - May 2000
Moreland, Georgia Edit October 2001
N.A. Foundation Group - Smyrna - March 2003
The spiritual principle of sharing occurs when we provide an addict with what is needed. Each member shares in our signature way from the beginning of recovery. Sharing is the follow through that takes place after caring begins. It validates the NA promise: freedom from active addiction for any addict thoroughly applying these principles. Sharing takes place between addicts with a desire for recovery. Caring brings about incidents of sharing.
Anonymity from Step Twelve is the absence of labeling, possessing the beauty of acknowledging our Higher Power as the primary force in our lives. It creates the environment we need to recovery. We can shed old labels that may no longer apply. However, our personality remains to dilute the experience with the idea of our "having to run the show." With ego set aside, the spirit within us is allowed to emerge untainted by personal desire. We can experience the miracle of personality change enhanced by anonymity.
Regardless of their condition, newcomers are welcomed. The only requirement for membership is their desire to stop using, remain clean and live a new way of life. Few of us are comfortable judging the newcomer's sincerity. Our terrific ability to mask who and what we are from intruding eyes is an ability we retain in recovery. It is part of our survival skills. Far too often, the assessment between our or two members has been crucial in a newcomer's recovery. Fortunately, it only takes one to carry our message. This is part of the awakening experience of our Twelfth Step, an element of the Step's maturation as we grow. Applications of principles are endless -- our need for surrender, belief, inventory, confiding, letting-go, and amends builds a healthy life. Our inability to live such principles is a measure of our illness.
Among all our principles, we find ideas like inclusiveness, openness, trust, helpfulness, selfless-giving, and caring help offset our addict's tendancy to do the opposite. Our self-destructiveness opposes the principles that bring peace and happiness to the willing. These words are from the recovery language within NA. The currency of our program is a language born of deep, applied love and commitment that has endured great pain and hardship.
We become aware that our program results from a huge amount of deliberate, consistent effort on the part of all of our members. As the hours of scheduled meetings approaches, how many thousands of automobiles are started for the express purpose of attending an NA meeting? How many light switches are thrown and chairs arranged to seat our multitude? In a day, how many hours do members share? Travel in the Fellowship is convincing because we hear the same principles working for other people, far from where we live. Change comes to members exposed to the greater NA beyond the boundaries of their local Fellowship.
Ultimately, we find our in our own way. Narcotics Anonymous is the gathering of addicts who desire to stay clean and grow spiritually. On a daily basis, many ideas, experiments, changes, conflicts, polarization and failures are filtered through tests of application that produce our Program. When they work, they extend our ability to apply the NA program. If not, we move on, leaving behind what does not work. With our emphasis on sharing and caring, we have a life. After our needs are met -- food, shelter, clothing and solvency -- crisis may siphon time from these things yet we discovery we return to them to keep our house in order. Our loved ones needs, reasonable, come first. After living requirements aer met we have the opportunity to selflessly give by sharing. This sharing happens as the fruit of our existence, however restricted or marginal. Our sharing is not a benefit of the material world, it is a benefit of the spirit. Generosity is the nature of our loving God, as we share an opportunity to reflect divine calm and trust.
Spiritual principles can seem tenuous or wishy-washy to those who have little experience with them. It may be a fixation on reality that makes an otherwise delusional person successful. In secret, this person may also be a great giver. Spiritual principles are more real than the rationales used to justify our active addiction. Many doors closed to us will only yield after we apply spiritual principles.
How often have we seen a member in the midst of a glowing recovery succumb to greed, lust, pride, avarice, envy, hatred or anger? However convincingly they justify their actions, they all run into impassable obstacles. Nor can they overcome obstacles by applying more force or arguing the correctness of their position. We share about remaining stuck until we surrender to our powerlessness. We share how the application of this principle works in all areas of our lives. Constantly living by spiritual principles exhibits as awakened spirit. During times of hardship we sit in silent wonder over the beauty in our lives and the company we share. We endure without making things worse, each time discovering as area wherein we lack surrender, discovering a truth in the situation and growing a little freer, aligning ourselves with the powerful force that works for us. It is neither defeat nor an end to our pursuit of happiness. It is the way to happiness. This is life on life's terms.
Spiritual-reality does not apologize for its ways. Without it, there would be no escape. The delusions or our disease produce defects that arrest growth. Most obstacles would have been simple were we not addicts. They prevented a timely, clear lesson. The marvel is that through recovery we regain what has been lost.
Through sharing and caring we gain the ability to do for others what was once done for us. We can each remember the patience and love that kept us coming back. Now, awakened and based in principles, we carry the message of hope and recovery. This is as crucial for someone working a Twelfth Step as studying and grasping the disease concept in the First Step. We cannot remain clean without it.
Personally seeking to make one's mark in NA entitles the member to a series of unnecessary mistakes. Caring and sharing suspends our personal agenda. Through loving service, caring and sharing, God allows us to grow beyond ourselves into the wisdom of a clear, open spirit of goodwill and sensibility in the service of abiding in the spirit. Our Fellowship will endure.
[3.21.03]
persons have visited this site since May 10, 2002
Reprinted from the
N.A. FELLOWSHIP USE ONLY
Copyright � December 1998
Victor Hugo Sewell, Jr.
N.A. Foundation Group
1516 B Live Oak Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
[email protected]
All rights reserved. This draft may be copied by members of Narcotics Anonymous for the purpose of writing input for future drafts, enhancing the recovery of NA members and for the general welfare of the Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship as a whole. The use of an individual name is simply a registration requirement of the Library of Congress and not a departure from the spirit or letter of the Pledge, Preface or Introduction of this book. Any reproduction by individuals or organizations outside the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous is prohibited. Any reproduction of this document for personal or corporate monetary gain is prohibited.
Last update March 27, 2007