Yesterday I got a call from one of our members who has struggled with staying sexually sober. He had a business trip scheduled that would take him a couple of hundred miles from home and through some towns where he typically would stop at slippery places. He would set himself up to act out when he arrived at his destination.

This fellow called several times as he drove, noting the areas where he was not stopping, as had been his habit. I tried calling him last night and got his cell phone answering service. I wished him well. This morning his call-back message was expressing joy at having gotten to his destination, not having set himself up, and not having acted out.

Previously, he had not opened himself up during his time in our Fellowship. He had continued to relapse. Yesterday he tried something new, and it worked. He led with his weakness, he exposed his disease, and he stayed in recovery just for the day. This morning we spoke, and he was pleased at his progressive victory over lust.

What a gift when we can get past our false pride and the chains that bind us to the fears of our past, and begin to test the waters of recovery. The message here is simple: come on in, the water’s fine!