“Mom, Can I Have An Otter? – Please!” – 12 Step Work

Last summer my brother and his wife took their four children to Sea Word. There was a situation during their vacation that I am sure is long forgotten that I will never forget. As related by my sister in law…”the whole family had just enjoyed the show put on by the Otters. Apparently the Otters did a pretty impressive job. They definitely captured one heart that day. My nephew Kyle, age five, was so taken with the little creatures that as they exited the arena he expressed to his mother, in no uncertain terms, his desire to HAVE an Otter. He was not interested in the stuffed kind in the gift shop either. He wanted the living, frolicking kind and he was serious! There were tears and lots of pleading. Finally my sister in law asked her young son. “Kyle, what would we have to do to have a otter?” She fully expected him to come to his five year old senses and consider the gargantuan effort it would take to provide food and an appropriate oceanic environment for an otter at their condo in the suburbs. But that’s not where Kyle’s mind went. His answer to the question, “Kyle, what would we have to do to have a otter?” was simply, “Say please?”

We all had a good laugh. We teach children that “please” is the magic word that unlocks so many doors, so why not this one. This little interchange took my mind to one of the great misunderstandings about the recovery, healing, and change that result from applying the 12 Steps. The first step is to become honest and admit that we of ourselves “are powerless and that [our] live[s] have become unmanageable.” The second is to “come to believe that the power of God can restore [us] to complete spiritual health.” So, first we become honest about our need and second we become serious about experimenting with the belief that God can help us. Some people quit reading through the steps right there, never exploring steps 3-12. They assume that this is a program where those participating sit around and wait for God to change them, for God to do all the work.

Nothing could be further from the truth. We often refer to applying these gospel principles in our lives as “recovery work.” And “work” it is! It’s true that it’s a different kind of effort than we’ve made in the past, the effort that didn’t yield lasting results. It’s true that the outer signs of progress might not be immediately visible, because we work on an inner change that eventually shows on the outside. And finally, it’s true that we do not work alone. We work under the direction and with the power of God. Our work is made possible because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Divinely facilitated recovery, healing, and progress definitely require work. It’s not a matter of “Please Mom, can I have a Otter” and it’s definitely not a matter of “Please God, can I have recovery!”

By Nannette W.
Posted Monday, October 13, 2008

Copyright 2008 by Nannette W. All right reserved.
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