A Spiritual Perspective: Sustainability of Mind and Body

These words have indeed been very powerful in representing needed life-change in the struggle with addiction. Yet along with this mantra phrase of the recovery movement there has often existed a lingering side conversation: that there is more to sobriety than just staying clean, dry, and abstinent of the toxic people, places and things of our lives. Because the truth is, we can be clean from substance abuse and unhealthy activities for a time, but still missing peace and purpose. And we know where this equation often leads to - relapse.

So consider the following question as a new addition to this ongoing conversation about sobriety: what would it be like to live life "clean and green"?

By living green we are moving beyond the assumed practice of recycling cans and avoiding styrofoam. By going green together in recovery we are digging soul-deep into the roots of life, the earth and the people around us. To be clean and green is really a spiritual perspective. It's about living simply, realizing that our everyday choices affect the world around us - the way we treat our bodies, the earth and each other. Living green is about regaining focus on the journey of discovering love, peace, hope and liberation in all areas of life. When we live clean and green the focus will be a spiritual one - living to make this world a better place. In the midst of both our joys and our sufferings - deep down we all want to make a difference. Again, if our only purpose is to stay sober, we will eventually lose momentum. But if our sobriety springs us into a green lifestyle - our new motivation will last a lifetime.

If we are listening to the current spiritual heartbeat around the globe, we will find a subtle hint at the need for "green recovery" for all of humankind. There seems to be a global awakening to stop the abuse of earth's resources; there is a desperation for economic responsibility and fairness; and there is a sincere desire for building community among nations.

If we apply this global green spiritual awakening to our individual recovery, it becomes clear that we are needing to stop abusing the earth's resources (alcohol drugs, food, etc), we are also desperate for personal economic recovery and fairness in relationships and we all desire to be in a healthy  non-judgmental, grace-based, loving community.

An essential aspect to the spiritual pilgrimage of recovery begins when head knowledge becomes heart knowledge. Essentially we all know things should be better in our world and in our lives, but we have not let those desires take hold of our hearts yet. We can be well-versed in religion, the 12 steps and the lingo of recovery - but it's love in action - to ourselves and to our world - that is the only true test of spiritual growth and a life "well-lived". And that is what living clean and green is - love in action.

At Greengate Intensive, we will explore what it means for each of us to live everyday clean and green.  We believe this spiritual perspective is key to both finding and spreading love, peace, hope and liberation!