Friendship is a fundamental part of the human experience, but when intertwined with the journey of recovery, it becomes something even more profound. Today, I reflect on a friendship that has spanned over 60 years—a friendship forged in youth, tested by life's challenges, and ultimately strengthened through the shared path of sobriety.
My friend and I met in college, became fraternity brothers, and were once drinking buddies. Over time, our lives took different turns, but the common thread that has kept us connected is our experience with alcoholism and the journey of recovery. To some, this may seem like a fragile foundation for a lifelong friendship. However, I would argue the opposite.
When I made the decision to stop drinking, this friend was the first person I called. At the time, he had been sober for about four years, and I knew he would understand the depths of my despair. He had walked the same path and reached the same moment of surrender. He was not just a friend but a guide—someone who had already found a way through the darkness and could reassure me that there was hope.
Alcoholics Anonymous speaks to this unique connection:
"We are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful." — Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, p. 17
"We have found that people who have had the benefit of this fellowship are far more likely to maintain their sobriety than those who attempt to do it alone." — Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, p. 15
"There is no more aloneness... We are a fellowship of the spirit." — Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, p. 154
Friendships like these are treasures beyond material wealth. They transcend mere companionship and touch the very essence of what it means to support and uplift another person.
- As Aristotle beautifully expressed: "What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." — Nicomachean Ethics, Book 8, Chapter 2
- And as C.S. Lewis insightfully noted: "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" — The Four Loves
- The nature of true friendship extends beyond shared experiences; it is rooted in genuine love and concern for one another. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote: "A person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but a person who loves those around them will create community." — Life Together
From a spiritual perspective, friendship is among the highest forms of love:
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." — John 15:13
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." — Romans 12:10
The late President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints eloquently summarized the power of friendship: "Friendship is the sweetest influence in all of life. It is so powerful that it can soften hearts, lift the spirits, and heal the wounded soul."
As I reflect on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for the friends who have walked beside me in recovery. These friendships are not only a source of strength but also a testament to the power of connection, understanding, and shared hope. In the end, friendship in recovery is more than just companionship—it is a sacred bond that can guide us toward healing and a brighter future.
No comments:
Post a Comment