Bench Warming

Bench Warming

Intellectual discussions concerning spirituality can be interesting, even invigorating, but have no real value without a corresponding demonstration. Consider: someone decides to become a snow skier. They proceed to read books and magazines on skiing, attend lectures and seminars, learn about different kinds of snow and meteorology, purchase the latest skiing attire and buy the best skis. Are they a skier? To the casual observer they seem to meet the criterion, for they “know” all about skiing and have all the latest and best equipment. Problem is they have never actually skied. Now, a seasoned skier would not be fooled for a moment, they would listen and know in short order their “knowledge” was all theoretical, none of it based in actual experience. Clearly, being a lodge or “bench” skier has its advantages: you never get hurt (as long as you don’t insult an actual skier) and you stay warm and dry with minimal wear and tear on your gear and wardrobe. The only problem being the point of skiing is to well, ski.

Now most who decide to ski, do in fact hit the slopes. Spiritually however many choose to remain in the lodge, convinced self-knowledge sufficient, taking the “slopes” unnecessary. Both cases of bench warmers demonstrate the same truths: lacking demonstration self-knowledge avails us nothing that faith without works is dead and though they wish to enjoy a certain reputation they know in their heart they don’t deserve it. Knowledge has little or no value until it is put into action/demonstration, for when we lack the faith to put what we “know” to work, we allow fear to dominate us. For faith to be vital we must leave the “lodge” and hit the slopes, and just like the beginning skier, regardless of how much we think we know, we are going to fall, make mistakes, end up hurt and a little sore, all the while gaining invaluable experience, the theoretical becoming the practical, faith in action.
Oh, and never ski on old wax, but you already knew that.

https://miraclesofrecovery.com/



© Vincent Lee Jones All Rights Reserved Miracles Of Recovery, Overdose Death, Alcoholism, Wayne Dyer, Drug Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path Recovery, Drug Rehab, #Drug Addiction, #Drug Rehab, #Healing Path Recovery, #Heroin, #Opioids

Published by Vincent Lee Jones

Silk sheets or city streets, Park Avenue or park bench, addiction is an equal opportunity destroyer of lives. My name is Vincent Lee Jones and I have been in recovery since September 1985. My professional career began when I was nearly 20 years in recovery and was asked to work pro bono with at risk students at Huntington Beach High School. At the time I had developed a reputation within the at large recovery community as an effective communicator and was known to some of the faculty. After the death of two students from prescription drugs I was asked to start working with at risk students, which I did for nearly 5 years. Word of mouth lead to offers of compensated freelance Facilitator and Director positions with numerous local treatment facilities in the ensuing years. As a retired Building Contractor/Designer, working in conjunction with a treatment facility, I created a construction program utilizing a workforce comprised almost exclusively of people new or returning to recovery, helping them to not only learn a trade and start making a living but since many of them had relapsed numerous times, to begin truly building a foundation with real aftercare to live free of active addiction. This program changed many lives. In my 30+ years in recovery I have worked with thousands of individuals from all walks of life, teenagers to the retired, famous to infamous, prosperous to those living hand to mouth, adamant atheists to those embracing strong Religious beliefs; suffering from all manner of intoxicant and behavior-based addictions as well as those who love and care about them, both as a member in recovery Fellowships and as a treatment professional. I can be contacted at 714-366-1725. I write and publish daily a recovery based nondenominational spiritually based blog at https://livinginspirit.blogspot.com with accompanying videos that can be found as well on YouTube and LinkedIn at Vincent Lee Jones.

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