Taking the First Step…

Life is full of “firsts.” When my son Benjamin was born his first breath and his first “poop” were very important. The string of firsts goes on from first word to first step. These are the many firsts that we celebrate in the development of a child into an adult. The most important step in “growing up” is not developmental, it is monumental.

The first three step in the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program are:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. [Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program%5D

In order to grow up we must accept that we are out of sync with an unseen reality. This is what Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus in John 3:5-8 …“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

The first steps of a grown up life can’t start until we are born again spiritually. Unlike childbirth, a spiritual birth is not something that happens spontaneously or automatically. Nor does it happen simply because one has experienced a religious life from a young age. My personal story is a case in point.

I was a church attender from birth. My mom and dad were members of the Seventh-day Adventist church and were committed to being at “Sabbath School” every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and in the Sanctuary for the Worship Service at 11:00 a.m. I have very early memories of being dressed in my little suit and tie and riding in the back seat of our 1949 Ford on the way to the El Monte SDA church. What started with my mom and dad, especially my mom, continued into my adulthood.

Catholic boys and girls are baptized within the first few week of life and, if there life is in danger, without any delay. [Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_baptism#Roman_Catholic_Church%5D

The alcoholic who is embarking on the 12-step journey is encouraged to make a decision. Most of us won’t be faced with that AA decision. Nor have we necessarily been given a personal invitation:

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him. [Matt. 4:18-20 NIV via Biblegateway.com]

Parents and churches lead children through the steps of religious indoctrination, from christening to confirmation. In the church I grew up in it was from baby dedication to baptism. There isn’t much choice involved. Nor is their much of a chance for the neophyte to make a decision. In my case, I don’t think my spiritual journey really began until I had experienced a spiritual crisis in my life.

There are those who say that an alcoholic must “hit rock bottom” before the first steps can be taken. The reality of the chaotic condition has to have sunk in. Infants and adolescents are not likely to have the ability to understand their “pre-birth” condition. For the alcoholic the first drunk driving condition may not be enough to start them on the journey to recovery. It was only around the time I was going through my first divorce that I began to realize my true spiritual condition.

My initial steps were not mechanical. Nor did they happen in an instantaneous blaze of spiritual insight. But I did come to the place where I realized, “I need God.” That need turned into a prayer, “God, I need you.”

Some questions to think about before you read on:

1. Where am I in my spiritual life?

2. Have I been “born again?”

3. What is my next step?

If you can’t answer yes to question no. 2, then let me encourage you take a moment and have a conversation with God. If you aren’t experienced with God-conversations. Just say, “God here I am, I need you. Help me.”