Blog entry for:

the concepts of unity and uniformity never confused me much in my life before recovery, but once i started down the road i really got mixed-up! the terms look similar and have a common root meaning one. my confusion lies in how they are used when applied to the purpose of the fellowship that gave me this new life.
i often confuse of unity and uniformity , in respect to how i can help others recover or carry the message to the still suffering addict. it probably is a good thing than on at least an annual basis, i have to think about these concepts and ponder what they mean to me today.
i understand that i need to subject my will to that of the fellowship when trying to carry the message as a member of a group or service body. my thoughts, opinions, experience, strength and hope is an important part of creating a conscience about how to go about our primary purpose and the time to express myself is during the formation of that conscience. after the conscience is formed, i need to honor that process and act as one with the rest of the group (unity). but no where am i required to act the same as another member in carrying the message, my particular style, my manner of speaking, and my unique experience, strength and hope are the basis for HOW i carry the message. to impose any of that on another member as some sort of ‘standard’ would be wrong and not very spiritual. and that is how the concept of uniformity plays in. WHAT message i carry is decided by the conscience of the group, service body or fellowship that i happen to be a part of at this time. and i am learning how to be a force for unity through my support of those decisions. HOW i carry the message is a decision every member needs to make for themselves. for me, i need to check that my words and behaviors work towards the common purpose of carrying the message and let others develop their own means to do the same. it is not my place to be some kind of spiritual gestapo and judge others on HOW well they promoting unity, although i often feel that is a job i NEED to do!
:)
anyhow, today i can work towards unity without pushing uniformity and be satisfied that i am doing the best that i can to be a part of rather than apart from by acting toward our common purpose -- to carry the message to the addict who still suffers!
∞ DT ∞