~ THE TITANIC ~
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
"Men at some time are masters of their fates."
William Shakespeare
:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~:. .:~*~
Our early days in OA can be compared to
being a passenger on the Titanic. As we
took our beloved and
wonderfully-powerful first three steps,
we were taking a voyage. In Step One we
realized we were on the Titanic and that
we were doomed. In Step Two we spotted a
lifeboat. And in Step Three we took our
seat in the lifeboat.
My voyage began with Step One when I
realized the connection between some
health issues I had last year and the
weight I was carrying. I had developed
"pitting edema" in both ankles. That,
along with other symptoms I had, was a
sign of congestive heart failure. I was
on the Titanic! I had lived all of my
life filled with resentments and
negative thinking which ate my very
being. I had lost much of my spiritual
strength and was in need of spiritual
renewal. I was indeed a passenger on my
own personal Titanic.
My voyage continued with Step Two. I
can't even remember the circumstances of
how I found The Recovery Group online,
but I know that my Higher Power must
have brought me here. Though I didn't
believe then what the fellowship said in
the meetings, I "acted as if" I believed
my Higher Power could relieve me of
these horrible compulsions to overeat
and to live in resentments and
negativity. That was all it took. I had
spotted the lifeboat and was "acting as
if" I believed it had come for me.
I was being changed. My early days of
abstinence were difficult, but
achievable. I had gotten into the
lifeboat. I don't remember where I was
in the steps, or when it happened, but I
will always remember where I was when I
suddenly realized that God had relieved
me of the compulsion to eat between
meals and to eat at night. That
realization had a huge impact on
me. That day I took my seat on the
lifeboat. I have been blessed with so
much recovery. This ride I am on in this
lifeboat isn't a free ride; it requires
that I work this program on a daily
basis. But when I consider the
alternative, I love the ride I am on,
and I truly cherish the other passengers
I am sharing this boat with!
ONE DAY AT A TIME . . .
I will cherish the lifeboat that this program has given me.