Step 12 and Service

Step 12

12.  Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other codependents, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.[1]

You can’t keep it unless you give it away.[2]

12^th Step slogan

I work Step 12.  I do my part to be of service to other codependents.  Right now, this involves hosting an online CoDA meeting once a week. This involves not only hosting the meeting, but typing and posting the topics, and answering emails.

Being of service helps me work my Program.  It helps keep me on track.  It is through my work with others that I keep working on myself, looking at myself, and building in new behaviors that work better for me and others. 

I have had a spiritual awakening as a result of working this Program.  I am truly closer to God.  I am a healthier person.  I am more whole, more complete, less stressed overall.  I am a better person. I have more of God in me and less of darkness. 

Okay, darkness isn’t what I really wanted to say there. I wanted to say Satan, but I’m afraid people will freak out.  But the heck with it.  I believe Satan exists. There is darkness and evil on this planet, and he is the source of all of it.  He doesn’t want us to be closer to God.  He wants us to live in doubt and fear and pain.  He wants us to follow him. 

My obsessiveness, compulsiveness, depression, shame, and self-loathing all lead me down his path of destruction.  I need to keep on God’s Path. And when I go down Satan’s Road, I realize I’ve taken a wrong turn and turn around.  I recognize where I am, go in a different direction. And next time, I’ll choose a God’s Path.

God is with me. 

And I work my Program by working with others. I listen to others at meetings.  God talks to me through them.  I am grateful. 

I give back.  I learn.  God is great.

Then I start the process all over again with Step 1. The cycle continues.  With every time through the Steps, I learn more about myself.  I grow closer to God. Good stuff. I am grateful.  Thank you, God.

[1] Codependence Anonymous, Codependents Anonymous. (Dallas, TX: CoDA Resource Publishing, 1995), p. vi.

[2] Slogan of Codependents Anonymous, Inc., Phoenix, AZ.