Chained To Your Oar?
Commitment. How important is it in life, success and recovery from addiction?
In the classic movie, Ben-Hur, Charlton Heston's character spends some time as a galley-slave on a Roman warship. He and his fellow rowers are chained to their oars while rowing to the cadence of a drummer who sets the speed of the ship.
None of the hundreds of rowers on the Roman Trireme are volunteers, yet they will row their hearts out, literally, because of that chain. If their vessel is sunk, so are they. As the drummer intones "Ramming speed!" each oarsman knows he must row for his life.
Andy Andrews tells of how Cortez motivated his men to victory by commanding them to burn their own boats prior to commencing an invasion. This seemingly drastic tactic ensured that each man in his expeditionary force had a vested interest in winning.
Those of us in recovery sooner or later realize we are in a life-or-death struggle with addiction. A struggle that grievously affects those around us as well. Victory is possible if we can commit unflinchingly to do whatever it takes to achieve it.
Recovery and the chance at life and success it offers requires a total life-long commitment. Is it worth it? Ask any of the multitude who have made that commitment, honored it and found freedom and joy in the process.
The galley slaves and Cortez's men were put in their position against their wills. Once their situation was made clear, however, it no longer mattered how they got there. The only way out was to give their all.
Alcoholics and addicts do not choose their plight, though it often appears so. Usually, they need to be in just as hellish a place as Ben-hur was on that galley to be willing to go to any lengths to save themselves. We call this magical place of change "Rock Bottom".
There is a little zen-like saying in recovery, "It takes what it takes."
One of its meanings is that however much agony is required to get us to surrender and follow the instructions (that have been there all along) is amazingly different for each addict. It is astonishing to those around an alcoholic how much pain they can endure and inflict before they become ready to change.
Looked at another way, it expresses the acceptance that is so vital in recovery. That we are willing to do whatever it takes to stay sober and have a happy life.
I was once quite annoyed when a friend told me I had the simplest problem in the world and "all I had to do was not drink." Of course his statement was true. But not the whole truth. What I really had to do was stop taking drugs and drinking and then find a whole new way to live. I had to make a commitment and stick to it. I had to start living by spiritual principles. I had to accept that I could not take short-cuts of any kind and get completely honest about myself.
With a great deal of help I did these things and they worked to transform my life.
Another requirement is to freely give to others what was freely given to me. It is a requirement, but it is really so much more.
It is a blessing.
In the classic movie, Ben-Hur, Charlton Heston's character spends some time as a galley-slave on a Roman warship. He and his fellow rowers are chained to their oars while rowing to the cadence of a drummer who sets the speed of the ship.
None of the hundreds of rowers on the Roman Trireme are volunteers, yet they will row their hearts out, literally, because of that chain. If their vessel is sunk, so are they. As the drummer intones "Ramming speed!" each oarsman knows he must row for his life.
Andy Andrews tells of how Cortez motivated his men to victory by commanding them to burn their own boats prior to commencing an invasion. This seemingly drastic tactic ensured that each man in his expeditionary force had a vested interest in winning.
Those of us in recovery sooner or later realize we are in a life-or-death struggle with addiction. A struggle that grievously affects those around us as well. Victory is possible if we can commit unflinchingly to do whatever it takes to achieve it.
Recovery and the chance at life and success it offers requires a total life-long commitment. Is it worth it? Ask any of the multitude who have made that commitment, honored it and found freedom and joy in the process.
The galley slaves and Cortez's men were put in their position against their wills. Once their situation was made clear, however, it no longer mattered how they got there. The only way out was to give their all.
Alcoholics and addicts do not choose their plight, though it often appears so. Usually, they need to be in just as hellish a place as Ben-hur was on that galley to be willing to go to any lengths to save themselves. We call this magical place of change "Rock Bottom".
There is a little zen-like saying in recovery, "It takes what it takes."
One of its meanings is that however much agony is required to get us to surrender and follow the instructions (that have been there all along) is amazingly different for each addict. It is astonishing to those around an alcoholic how much pain they can endure and inflict before they become ready to change.
Looked at another way, it expresses the acceptance that is so vital in recovery. That we are willing to do whatever it takes to stay sober and have a happy life.
I was once quite annoyed when a friend told me I had the simplest problem in the world and "all I had to do was not drink." Of course his statement was true. But not the whole truth. What I really had to do was stop taking drugs and drinking and then find a whole new way to live. I had to make a commitment and stick to it. I had to start living by spiritual principles. I had to accept that I could not take short-cuts of any kind and get completely honest about myself.
With a great deal of help I did these things and they worked to transform my life.
Another requirement is to freely give to others what was freely given to me. It is a requirement, but it is really so much more.
It is a blessing.
Total Comments 0
Comments
Total Trackbacks 0
