leadership

i look back over 60 years of life and realize that i was the kid who took charge when in a group. my leadership was so often, in my early years, of a wrongful nature. i led the others into drinking more, drugging more and just doing more evil then maybe they would have without me. when i founded credo recovery it was after a lot of prayer. i felt that i was led to get it started.

the first few years were busy, but very fruitful. as so many addicts joined the movement and it started to have a life of its own i again felt the Lord lead me. this time He was telling me to step away. i could not hear that at first. then it hit me. i was starting to feel like credo was mine. i had to micro-manage every aspect of it for it to keep going. i was responsible for others' recovery and how they lived their recovery. in essence i would have just spoiled the movement with my attitude.

that's when i really heard the Lord. He told me to step down, walk away from my baby. give it up to others to run. get my nose out of every little detail. i still wasn't hearing this so clearly. then my liver failed. my hip got replaced. i had two strokes. and all the complications that came with each new illness. i had to step down.

lo and behold not only did credo manage without me; it grew to other states. it now includes Illinois, West Virginia (in that area is PA, MD, and VA), and then next year Long Island, NY, and Florida next year, 2009.

now i find myself back in the thick of credo recovery again. and, again, i feel the Lord is leading me to renew N.J. credo. it has fallen into a slump and needs rejuvenation. God has led me to a very supportive church. this church, First Baptist Church of Collingswood, has offered to host all aspects of Credo. this, credo has not had before here in NJ. i think it will make all the difference. we are having the first weekend in Spring of '09.

it is not as though this will be all new. there are lots of folks who can make it happen. i just gotta get in touch with those who can make it happen. if i prepare all those involved so that it is done right then i won't have to worry about it being done right. cause i cannot be on the weekend when it happens.

last month i was contemplating leadership. it dawned on me; "who am i to tell folks about recovery and addiction and the way credo works properly."? i was led to st paul and to talk to my pastor about it. it came to me that if i have experience to share with others, and it's right, then i have an obligation to share it. i realized that i am not setting myself, in any way, above others. it is just that God has enlightened me as to how credo recovery should work, how it does work, and to work it must be done right. so, i continue to tell folks how to do credo properly. incidentals may be adjusted but not the essentials.

addiction recovery and spirituality

Recovery, i believe, is the most important thing in one's life. And without Jesus it is really hard to find recovery of any substance. it is so difficult for addicts to get outside themselves. when they do things really change in a hurry.

i firmly believe that it takes the first two years of recovery to begin to get life right outside of our addiction. Thoughts, spirituality, and even the body just aint right till about 2 years.

i at first thought that folks could not get anything from a Credo Recovery weekend until they had at least 2 years clean. i have since changed my mind about that. i have seen men go on a weekend with very little time at all and develop a relationship with Jesus that i often envied. the old saying that goes with 4th day retreats, which credo is one, is that God calls people on the weekend. when He calls someone we should not stand in the way. besides, so many guys and gals have been really hot to go on the weekend and then at the last minute been called somewhere else. then someone who fought it and said, "No way", end up going on the weekend and getting a solid relationship with Christ. so, now i believe that God really does call a person to a credo weekend.

i have heard many say that it takes a long time in recovery to develop spirituality. i have seen it jump started by someone going on a weekend. i think that hearing other addicts talk about how Jesus entered into their lives and recovery and changed them really makes a difference to their recovery and their overall lives. once a real spirituality begins it only grows and grows

there seems to be something very special about not being responsible for the world and its development. i am not responsible for anybody's recovery but my own. although i can aid and assist others recover. i am not the prime mover. it is still on the other person to find recovery and pursue it just like he or she did their addiction. but it sure is fun to watch recovery in the works. when people have that "Eureka!" experience and start living a new way with all the wonderment it entails it really is marvelous to watch and be a part of it. and, then, if i can help in any way with my experience what a joy that can be.