RECOVERY: Into a New Life! (Post 143)

THURSDAY, JULY 29

Post 143

ONWARD!

It was January, 1980

— after nearly eight years of daily preparation —

we were about to walk down the jetway to our plane at O’Hare airport.

We were about to begin our journey to Africa

and a new life.

(Written by Rev. Lowell Wertz, who – along with his wife Claudia Wertz – heads up Joy in the Harvest, a 41 year mission of the United Methodist Church in Tanzania.

https://joyintheharvest.com/newsletter/recent

“Claudia had never been to Africa. I had. I knew then, as I know now, God made me for Africa. Claudia turned to me and said, ‘If I panic in the jetway … drag me onto the airplane by my hair.’ My wife was teaching me about courage and commitment. She was launching into the unknown. I knew God had given her the ‘right stuff’ to do this. There was no last second panic.”

Courage and commitment. Often I have heard those two words in speaking with persons about recovery. There’s concern about actually making those first steps into a recovery program, whether it be treatment with a counselor or Step 1, etc., of the Gamblers Anonymous program. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of leaving a life of familiarity (regardless of the losses, chaos and destruction) … gut fear, mental fear: it’s an obstacle to tackle and proceed onward, nevertheless. Interestingly, courage can come AND commitment strengthens with growing courage.

One may ask, though, do I have the right stuff to succeed in recovery? At the beginning, there may be doubts. BUT there is help! There are countless numbers of persons who have attained a life no longer dominated by the urges and compulsive thoughts to gamble. Their personal budgets are under control. Prospects for healing relationships are growing; and self-esteem has taken on new dimensions. Their witness and companionship encourages and reassures those in early recovery.

Still, do I have the right stuff ? In answer to this kind of question, the reassurance is: God will provide. This is foundational. Achieved by one step at a time; one decision at a time; one response at a time. Look at each as accompanied by the divine – a power greater than oneself !

INTO A NEW LIFE: 20 Questions for People in Recovery

As recovery begins, changes start to develop. Yes, the urges and thoughts (to gamble) are there but certain responses start to make a difference. Waiting out the urge really does combat the immediacy of compulsion to place a bet. Budding patience grows. Recovery-images open doors to inner strength unknown before.

The following are questions to self-monitor the scope of recovery within one’s own individual life. They are subdivided into personal categories and present an ongoing assessment as recovery becomes and takes hold as a steady lifestyle. Moreover, be patient and kind to yourself … there is much to learn in recovery (failures can and should become lessons learned) – and there will be many rewards!

Practical Living

· Do you give adequate attention to your work, school, and/or home responsibilities?

· Has your ambition or efficiency improved?

· Are you managing your time prudently?

· Has your sleep improved?

· Do you look forward to a life free of gambling?

Financial Recovery

· Have you started to solve your financial difficulties?

· Are you a good steward of your monies?

· Have you stopped borrowing money other than for home and car?

· Have you replaced items that were sold for gambling money?

· Do you have a budget for normal expenditures?

Personal Growth and Goals

· Has your home life improved?

· Has your reputation improved?

· Have you dealt with the remorse/resentment of the gambling?

· Do you have ways of coping with losses of life without the escape of a compulsive behavior?

· Are you satisfied when you achieve the goal you aimed for?

· Are you providing for the welfare of yourself and your family?

· Have you found ways to cope with worry, trouble, boredom, loneliness, grief, or loss?

· Are you a law-abiding citizen?

· Do you call on your Higher Power to help you with arguments, disappointments, or frustrations?

· Do you thank your Higher Power for any good fortune and celebrate with family/friends?

In reflection: courage, commitment, the right stuff …yes, recovery does begin with looking ahead (given the fears and doubts, as well). And yet, recovery grows into a new life – one with ups and downs along with immeasurable joys. Responding to the call to recovery leads to help – and real-life hope!

I will close with words of hope from Rev. Wertz: This January [2020] we celebrated the walk down the jetway and into forty fantastic years of serving the Lord as missionaries in Africa. Those years contained rich, meaningful, and yet sometimes scary experiences. We were right where God wanted us to be.

May we be encouraged to realize that new life in recovery (of all kinds of life issues) is right where God wants us to be. ONWARD!

Blessings,

Rev. Janet Jacobs, CCGSO

Founding Director

Gambling Recovery Ministries

https://www.grmumc.org

855-926-0761

For more information on the IGCCB Clergy/Lay Minister Certification visit:

www.igccb.org

From IGCCB’s Resources for Coping with COVID 19:

https://personcenteredtech.com/tmh/clients (Online therapy preparation for clients)
https://gambling.easywebinar.live/replay (Jody Bechtold telehealth webinar)
https://youtu.be/dYUEjIFtT8E (Jody Bechtold telehealth webinar)

For more information on gambling disorder and recovery issues, go to: