“We see it happening among us every day. This miraculous turnabout is evidence of a spiritual awakening”.
We watch them walk in to their first meeting defeated, their spirits broken. Their suffering is obvious, and their desire for help even more apparent. They collect a welcome chip and go back to their seats, shaken by the effort.

We see them again, and they seem a little more comfortable. They’ve found a sponsor and are attending meetings every night. They still won’t meet our glance, but they nod in their heads in recognition as we share. We notice a spark of hope in their eyes, and they smile uncertainly when we encourage them to keep coming back.

A few months later, they are standing straight. They’ve learned how to make eye contact. They’re working the steps with their sponsor and are heading as result. We listen to them sharing at meetings. We stack chairs with them afterward. A few years later, they are speaking at a convention workshop. They’ve got a wonderful, humorous personality. They smile when they see us; they hug us, and tell us they could never have done it without us. And they do not understand when we say, “nor could we, without you”.

Just for today: I will find joy in witnessing the recovery of another.