Call Us Now: It only takes one step to start a journey
Of discovery,
It takes but one step on the road
To enlightenment and hope.
***
To take another step on the road
Of uncertainty,
Takes courage and determination
To move forward, to cope.
***
Yet, on taking this second step,
We see possibilities,
We awaken to new beginnings
New visions.
***
The realisation begins to dawn;
This is possible,
A message of hope that we can escape
The prisons (of our past).
***
Take another step on the road
Unfolding
Before our eyes and we realise
We have some aid
***
From a source thus far untapped,
Yet brimming
With strength and comfort
For the road ahead.
***
One more step onwards and
We feel the weight
Of our rucksack of the past
That slows our way.
***
We’ve looked at it before,
But only briefly,
And disregarded what we saw
For another day.
***
Take this off our back and
Look inside
At the wreckage of our past;
See it clearly.
***
Itemise it, describe it,
Write it all down
Then display the contents and prepare to
Share it freely.
***
And on the next step begin to
Unload the weight
That has dogged our journey;
Feel the peace descend.
***
Share the wreckage of the past
That so heavily weighed,
Feel the freedom to continue
Less the price we defend.
***
Take another step and we’re
Half way there,
And begin to prepare ourselves
To see, to realise.
***
Why we agreed to carry the weight
That slowed our trek,
Become ready to remove these defects
And open our eyes.
***
With another tentative step
We ask for these defects
To be finally removed
To make our way clearer.
***
And ready ourselves to finally
Start the process,
To clear the wreckage of our past
And make our goal nearer.
***
On the eighth step we begin to see
All the people
We harmed prior to this journey
And, before it ends,
***
We make a list to prepare
Ourselves to repent,
To finally make good our promise
To make amends.
***
Taking step nine, we safely and securely
Make amends where possible,
When, to do so, was clearly to the benefit of others
And not to us.
***
Although in doing so with humility
We continued our journey
Less burdened than when we started
Happy, free and joyous.
***
On the tenth step we looked back
From whence we came,
Became mindful of any potholes
We might be making.
***
We put these right as promptly as we could
Lest we trip up,
And continued on our journey forward
Content with steps we’re taking.
***
With another step along this road
We sought through meditation
To improve how we felt
About where we’re going.
***
Becoming conscious of the unseen
Companion we had along the way,
Of the support we’ve been given
By others to help our growing.
***
Now, with step twelve, journey’s end?
No, a new beginning,
Where we invite others to join us
On the road to salvation.
***
And show our steps well learned
Through experience,
The peace and tranquillity it brings;
Recovery and revelation.
***
J.M.Doolan, 4th July 1997
