The Spiritual Gift of the Steps. .

Spriritual gift-Art. Some years ago I got involved in a twelve-step program. I stayed with it 'til I felt that the issue had resolved. About five years. I learned the techniques and moved on. Julia Cameron was a twelve-stepper. She wrote "The Artist's Way." She said that if you followed the artist's way of working, you could get a handle on issues that were bothering you. One was was a technique called the "Morning Pages." I found that the pages worked and that I eventually found myself painting, drawing and doing small inspirational quotations with pen and ink and watercolor.. Anne Lamott is another twelve-stepper.  She discovered that her spirituality was found partially in the church. She discovered that her ability to write gave her the ability to pass along the message of recovery.
     The steps were discovered by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. They work, and  the idea is simple, find a power that you can call God. Bill Wilson was able to stay sober because he found that if he helped someone else he could stay sober. He discovered God and that His power in the form of helping others could be the source of his sobriety. He helped Dr Bob Smith and launched AA. Spirituality comes in many forms. Some find it in church, some find it in nature. I found it in art. I create art and pass it on to others to show that if you can improve that  person's situation you can motivate them to make the changes necessary to find a power greater than their problems-God. Julia Cameron, when she wrote "The Artist's Way, " discovered that the spiritual power of art was a wonderful source of self-esteem. A source of power to change one's perception of his or herself . Art is a way of healing wounded emotions.
     For centuries men were able to use the healing power of art to say things about the nature of God. The beauty of His strength and power. People discovered that this power was not only available to artists, anyone could utilize it. And that they could use it to get in touch with a power that would heal them of their problems-whatever they were. The reason I bring up the steps is that it is a source of finding many forms of spirituality. For me, it was creativity. I discovered prayer and meditation and self-appraisal were also  part of the package.  Anyone can give up the negative power that is killing them and get better. All that is required is honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness. I guess the reason that I am plugging AA and the steps is that they returned me to sanity. And as someone who has recovered it is important I pass on what I learned. I found that with pen, paper, ink, and watercolor that I had a gift.    Anne Lamott has became a wonderful writer who passes on the joy of recovery. Julia Cameron teaches that if we follow some simple guidelines we are capable of developing wonderful abilities. And becoming genuine artists. And finding that we have something to offer the world-if we only choose to try.