Power and Right to be Me

The Power of and the Right to be: ME

      There is something about sobriety that I have noticed is seldom talked about. When I got sober, through the Grace of God's help, I was pretty low down and had a low value of myself as a person, let alone a human being. The farther along in the steps I went, things started to change. The power contained in the steps is to get me in touch with a power greater than myself that can do for me what I cannot do. In my case stay sober. As I went along I started to realize that I was becoming me. The me that I had in mind for myself as I grew up. Not the me others wanted me to be, or the me that changed like the seasons to make you happy. Just me, one hundred percent, undiluted, standing on my own two feet, looking the world in the eyes, happy with who I am and who I am becoming, me.

      I like to compare things. I like to give examples so as to form a mental picture. It makes it easier for me to grasp concepts and situations. I compare myself to an oak tree. My roots, thanks to God's help, firmly planted in the soil reaching down deep, securing my being and my belief against the winds of Life that try to uproot me or topple me over. Growing tall and strong in the belief of my God's love for all his children, my branches outstretched to provide shelter, comfort and protection to my loved ones and those needing help. I do not care nor compare myself to others, any more that an oak tree compares itself to or cares what the pine and poplar think or are. Like apples to oranges, comparisons are usually silly and of no value. Each is to their own, compete and whole, and have no need to be anything else.

      It seems there are a lot of labels in the world. Liberal, conservative, democrat, republican, independent, black, white, asian, native american, mixed race, pro-life, pro-gun, catholic, lutheran, jewish, hindu, the list goes on endlessly I think. Life trying to use words, to describe someone, instead of letting there actions tell you who they are. Each person has the right, I believe, to be themselves, not type cast or stereotyped or forced to be the square peg in the round hole of a label. Just as I have the right to be me, I have to give them the freedom to be themselves, not to label them like a can of corn, expecting to conform to the limits of the can. That is one of the freedoms and strengths I have received for being sober and in searching for the God of my own understanding.

      I was given a brain so I could use it. I think the God of my understanding wants me to use it. I like to think I am a reasonably intelligent, mature man. I say reasonably because there are times when I like being childlike, and I still love a good cartoon, and the feel of riding my bike and stopping for ice cream like I was a kid. I have the ability to take information and to form and intelligent opinion or belief based on that information. I do not need someone else to form it for me and tell me what to believe. I am a free man, given the gifts that God gives all His children. I have no use for a government or group or person to tell me what is right or wrong, good or bad, rational or irrational. Let me form my own opinion just give me the information at hand.