Spiritual Awakening

Ever have a flash of insight while taking a shower? Well, that was my “educational variety” spiritual experience. I had come into OA in 1988 and left seven years later with the belief that I was cured. I believed my spiritual life could be supported enough by outside enterprises and I did not need OA anymore.

What I entered into was a fifteen-year relapse that included gastric bypass surgery in 2006. In those fifteen years I never stopped spiritually seeking for my happiness and peace of mind. I simply believed that OA was just another failed attempt at recovery. My weight ballooned back up to 280 pounds. I was devastated, demoralized and filled with anxiety because I had tried everything and was failing once again.

I walked back through the doors of OA in 2010 and was welcomed with open arms. I started working the Steps with a sponsor but remained in relapse. Then in May 2011 I became abstinent from sugar during a retreat. This was a huge milestone for me and my body began to return to a healthier weight. I had more peace of mind and happiness now. But I was still restless and discontent a lot of the time. I was struggling to maintain my abstinence.

On December 17th, 2011, while in the shower, I again received a very clear insight from my HP. All these years of seeking for a spiritual community and family were being answered in OA. My eyes were opened! The Twelve Steps are a spiritual program of change. I have fellowship with people who understand me. The ME that I hesitate to show the outside world has the freedom to be myself in OA. God and Higher Power are openly discussed in meetings, retreats and in conversations between members. There is no apology among us for speaking of God and seeking spiritual truths. In fact, this is the crux of the Steps for us. The beauty of the OA program is that we are encouraged to connect with whatever a Higher Power is for each of us. Our physical, emotional and spiritual recovery flows from this connection. I do not have words to express my deepening gratitude. So I will simply say THANK YOU to each member of OA for being here!

Terri S.