Work the Steps

At times I’m asked if Religious Recovery is a thirteen-week program, meaning do we work one Step per work until the program is finished. Individuals have also asked if the Steps should be worked in order. The answer is yes and no. If a person wants to work the Steps in order, one week at a time, then they are free to so. The important thing is not the order or the agenda, but simply to work the Steps. Work them in order or in no order. Skip any of the Steps you want to skip — either because you feel you don’t need that Step or perhaps you sense you’re not ready for it.

In some of the twelve-step meetings I’ve attended I’ve heard the phrase, “It works if you work it.” The Steps of Religious Recovery are able to heal us from religious hurts if we will let them. But, going a step further, the Steps are also able to heal us in other areas. Step Seven emboldens us to “Choose to forgive those who hurt us in the name of religion,” but if we leave off the last five words we see the simple wisdom to simply forgive those who hurt us, whether or not that involved a religion is not important. Forgive those who hurt us.
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The Steps contain powerful words of wisdom to help us heal from hurts and abuses no matter where those hurts and abuses originated — even if we are the source of the pain. After all, we are generally our worst critic. Work the Steps, and you’ll find the courage to change.