Today I participated in a discussion with individuals from our small group at church. We all take the summer off and resume groups in the fall if people choose to recommit. There were several families mulling over the positives and negatives of committing to another year of community group involvement.
I am so glad that I am part of several 12 Step groups that understand that we either stay together or die separately. My soul, emotions, thoughts, and actions all become distorted when I am not actively involved in a spiritual group.
Over the past two decades I have seen the negative effects of disengaging from the 12 Step process. My theory is that when I go to meetings I am reminded at a heart level how crazy my thinking can be if left strictly to my own company. When I do not attend meetings then I am unaware of how distorted my views and attitudes can be.
My heart expands when I listen to my human brothers and sisters tell about their experiences and inner life. I have more compassion for others and myself when I reject any form of isolation and I embrace the concept of belonging.
I address this huge issue of spiritual community involvement in my book. In fact, I devote a whole chapter to “finding your tribe.” I feel as though we are meant to be in community with each other and we suffer without connection. As they say in the 12 Step world “meeting makers, make it.”
This blog post was written by Michael Dinneen, author of THE GIFT OF FULFILLMENT
