Chaplain Cliff Bond on being powerless yet powerful

Life, the 12 Steps and Crisis Ministry

In 1984, I was working as chaplain on an in-patient, 28-day alcohol and drug treatment unit at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, Kansas. During the course of one of the treatment activity groups, I was paged by the ER for an emergency situation. As I left the group room and hurried toward the elevator I remember thinking, “I wonder what is going on down there, I don’t know what I will need to do or say, so please, Holy Spirit, help me be and do what is needed because I know You know what I do not.”

And then I realized the humor of what was happening. I had been talking to addicted people about the spiritual nature of the 12 Steps of AA. Step 1 says to admit our powerlessness, step 2 says we came to believe that a Higher Power can restore us to sanity and step 3 says that we made a decision to turn our will and life over to the Higher Power as we understand that Higher Power. I remember clearly the sense of relief, peace and joy that came over me as I chuckled to myself on the way to a crisis.

I am not alone when it comes to taking myself too seriously. We all do it at times. Doctors do it, nurses do it, clergy do it, parents do it, employers do it and probably there is no one who does not do it at some time or other. What I received that day was a wonderful reminder from the One who created me that I truly am not alone unless I choose to be. And even then, it is only my perception of being alone that is real. The promise and the challenge of the first 3 of the 12 steps of AA is that we do not need to take ourselves seriously at all. It is okay to be powerless because there is power available to us when we make the decision to turn over our will and life to that Power’s care. The irony and the wonderful paradox is that by admitting my powerlessness I had more “power” to be a helpful part of the treatment team in the ER than if I had gone down in my own strength. How cool is that!

Since that day I have taught whoever will listen that the 12 Step Program is not only about addiction – it is about living. I use the first 3 steps in an intentional way whenever I am called to minister in a delicate or unusually challenging situation. Even beyond that, this attitude has become such a part of me that the same process is present even in the mundane things of life. It is okay to be powerless and to admit it, because when I do that, I tap into Power that is blocked off unless the decision to accept it is made.

I am grateful to the 12 Step Program for many reasons but its greatest teaching and gift to me came that day when I connected the recovery program to spiritual life itself. The first 3 steps of the program are the secret to the value of my ministry – but like the Old Timers say, “It only works when you work it.” So, whether in a recovery program or not, the wisdom of the 12 Steps reaches into our spiritual core and engenders ministry that is effective, helpful and spiritual. Thank you, Bill W. – and especially thank you, Holy Spirit.

 

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