Traditions

Empathy is about relating. Relating to someone. Putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Entering into the feelings of another. What does that mean? Well, in CR it means that when people are sharing their experiences of how they picked up or were tempted to pick up and are open for feedback, we in the group can and do relate to them. Another word we use in the group is “identify.”

To relate or identify with someone you have to both think and feel. Now you may think that this is an obvious statement. However, many people don't do either! I've made many comments without putting myself in the other person's shoes. It's so much easier! If I just make a judgment about this person's lack of judgment, I come off looking quite impressive, right? Wrong! Not in this CR group! There is an art to relating. It is a skill, see Rom.15:2-3.  For instance:

When we are asked if we are willing to do or change something, our usual response can go like this; "If I didn't want to change, I wouldn't be here doing this!" We can even find ourselves bristling with pride at the very question itself. "How could you possibly ask a question like this? Isn't is obvious from my presence that I am willing to change?

In reality, being asked this question should cause us to pause for thought and consideration. Willing to change what, exactly? At this Jesus would say "willing to change everything."

Outreach. In the world of Chemical Recovery this tradition has been described as keeping the recovery you have by giving it away. In the Christian community at large it is widely understood as seeking non-Christians and teaching them the way of God through scripture. Think about the Christian view of outreach: a mission to impart truth to nonbelievers who are, in regards to their heart and minds, “futile,” “foolish” and “dark.” (Romans 1:21). We reach out to people because they are ignorant and or rebellious to God’s truths. With this criterion in mind we ought to consider whether or not there aren’t’ a great number of Christians within our own fellowships that are in desperate need of being reached out to. 

In John 8:31-32 we learn that the truth isn't something we possess naturally. In fact it's clear that we can only ever really know the truth if we are willing to unconditionally follow Jesus.. Jesus himself says in Luke 14: 25 that unless we willingly give up everything, we cannot be His disciples.

Giving up everything must surely extend beyond our material world and into the realm of opinions and ideas. This means letting go of the untruths that are uncovered in our pursuit of recovery. To do this we must learn to love the truth regardless of the form it takes, or however it might make us feel.