The Life Recovery Bible

3/17/2015: The Life Recovery Bible

11:44pm – 12:35am

            On an earlier session during my case management at DC, my resident, a female named Ms. P, asked if I have a copy of the Life Recovery Bible.  She told me she heard that it was very good.  I’ve never heard of it but I promised to her that I’ll find out and, if possible, give her a copy if I can find one for free. 

            Today, I received my order of a Life Recovery Bible.  I opened it and I looked at the footnotes and the addendums.  Boy, this Bible can heal the soul.  Almost every page in the Bible has lengthy footnotes through the lens of addiction and life recovery.

            I asked my intern supervisor about my client’s request and if it is possible for me to buy the book for her.  My supervisor told me, because it will conflict with social work values of giving gifts, I cannot do that.  I felt dejected.  Most people give gifts to gain favor.  I want to give gifts to heal. 

“But,” my intern supervisor told me, “you could donate it to the facility so that everyone has access to the book.” 

He told me that just giving her the book would be unethical because other residents would not be receiving the same gift.  I need to be fair for everyone.  I thought about this idea and I feel it is even better!  It is more macro.  Instead of giving it to just one person, I can give it to the whole facility! 

Yet, as I am reading the book today, I find that I need the book, too.  Bibles come in different shapes and colors and lens.  I have an Evidence Bible which specifically has commentary about evangelism.  That Bible is highly valued and treasured.  I have plain New International Version (NIV) pocket Bibles that I keep.  Now, I have a Life Recovery Bible which has commentary that focus on life healing, following the famous 12-step program.  I prefer Bibles with a specific lens.  I can read the commentary to gain further understanding and apply it to my life.  People keep guns; I keep Bibles.  :p

            Now I want to share the Bible.  I am keeping the one I brought, or perhaps I’ll order the normal-print version.  I ordered the large-print version because I know that many residents may have vision impairments due to their lifestyle.  And, I might donate one to the UTEP library.  I am surprised that I cannot find a copy of the Life Recovery Bible in the library search engine.  I also want to give to some of my fellow interns.  The insight that this Bible has pertaining to recovery is amazing. 

            Unfortunately, the resident that requested this Bible absconded or escaped.  Her counselor told me today.  She is now in San Antonio.  She told me she absconded probably because she relapsed and doesn’t want to have a dirty or positive urinalysis (UA).  In a way, this sucks.  On our session last week, Ms. P told me she would like to focus more on relapse prevention so I prepared it for this week.  This session would have been what’s needed to help her with her situation!  I included that the stages of relapse are emotional, mental, and then physical.  I included symptoms and tips on how to fight against relapse on each stage.  I also included myths.  Many people think relapse prevention is just saying no the moment the drug or other temptation is offered but that is incorrect.  That stage is the most difficult part.  The battle to relapse begins gradually, from the inside.  It starts with the flesh, with the mind, and the temptations that follow it.  A person checks pornography not because that person chooses it when the opportunity comes, but because the thought inside that person keeps nagging, keeps growing, keeps going unchecked.  Oh and before that, the desire that goes with pornography, perhaps the need to be loved, to have a relationship with someone special, is not satisfied.  There is a lack of self-care.  Eventually, the body and the mind wear out and the person gives in.  Dammit!  She missed the meat-and-bones of the treatment plan!

            Partially, it is my mistake.  My intern supervisor told me that I need to focus on the most important issue first, which in this case, is drug addiction.  If I work on other issues such as education or employment, if the primary front of drug addiction collapses, everything else will also collapse.  I covered other topics with her such as employment readiness and education.  I should have focused only on relapse prevention first.  I feel horrible.

            Yet, another part of me feels glad.  This unfortunate event is fortunate for me.  I have one less case to worry about.  I can focus on my other tasks.  But that thought is wrong.  Helping others, especially if I’m required to, should be a blessing.

To say again, and as reflected in my past, many times by helping others, you also help yourself.  Helping others should be a blessing.