JFT Oct. 17 - The Truth

[Gmoney]

October 17

“The Truth”

“Everything we know is subject to revision, especially what we know about the truth.”

Basic Text, p. 91

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Many of us thought we could recognize “The Truth.” We believed the truth was one thing, certain and unchanging, which we could grasp easily and without question. The real truth, however, was that we often couldn’t see the truth if it hit us square in the face. Our disease colored everything in our lives, especially our perception of the truth—in fact, what we “knew” about the truth nearly killed us. Before we could begin to recognize truth, we had to switch our allegiance from our addiction to a Higher Power, the source of all that is good and true.

The truth has changed as our faith in a Higher Power has grown. As we’ve worked the steps, our entire lives have begun to change through the healing power of the principles of recovery. In order to open the door for that change, we have had to surrender our attachment to an unchanging and rigid truth.

The truth becomes purer and simpler each time we encounter it. And just as the steps work in our lives every day—if we allow them—our understanding of the truth may change each day as we grow.

––––=––––

Just for today: I will open my eyes and my heart to the changes brought about by the steps. With an open mind, I can understand the truth in my life today.



Copyright © 1991-2008 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved

[Gmoney]

For me, this reading emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness. It basically tells me that, during active addiction, my perception was warped and that my understanding of the truth was purely based in self-centeredness (if it's not what I want, it can't be real). Yet, as a result of getting clean and working the steps, the truth has become a lot easier to comprehend.

So many times, when I was new, I'd hear members misqoute the above saying. They'd say, "Everything about the truth is up for revision!" And I'd ask, "Everything?" LOL!! I'm so glad that the truth cannot be revised, and I'm just as grateful that I'm more open to learn what the truth is.

G

[navysteve]

The real truth, however, was that we often couldn’t see the truth if it hit us square in the face.

Just putting down the drugs doesn't make me able to see the truth. I had the misconception that simply saying I was an addict meant that I had come to terms with it. I was simply parroting what I heard you say. I like what the Basic Text says on page 21 We are great ones for manipulating the truth

The truth has changed as our faith in a Higher Power has grown.

The key word there is "the". I used to believe that we all held our own truths. It sounds very pseudo spiritual but doesn't meet the test.

[Gmoney]

I had the misconception that simply saying I was an addict meant that I had come to terms with it. I was simply parroting what I heard you say.

I had a sponsee that also struggled with accepting he was an addict. It was easy for him to say it, but he really didn't believe it. He kept trying to use "socially" with no success. I can relate because I didn't accept my disease until I had exhausted all attempts to control it.

I used to believe that we all held our own truths. It sounds very pseudo spiritual but doesn't meet the test.

I never quite bought into that one, although I know a lot of people who still do. It's like when they say, "My reality isn't the same as your reality." Huh???

[navysteve]

"My reality isn't the same as your reality." Huh???

Some are sicker than others brother