Recovery is a spirit. It cannot be touched, nor can it be completely understood.

It’s as wide as the world and yet small enough to fit snugly into the hearts and minds of man.

It has brought light where only darkness dwelt.
It has given hope to the hopeless and help to those who yearned in despair.
It has nourished forgiveness in those who knew no pity.
It has given strength to the weak and humility to the strong.
It has spurred to higher goals those who strove for nothing.
It has taught patience to the hurried and action to the lazy.
To youth it has given vision and to the aged, promise; to the lonely, companions; and to the restless, rest.
To the sick it has been a doctor and to the dying it has revived the spirit to live.
It has no judgement against the unteachable; nor has it praise for those who learn.
To the outcast it has been a family, and to the childless it has given children; to the ignorant, wisdom; and to the wise, tolerance.
It has given all people that which is most precious.
It has given a love for truth with enough left over to share.

*Adapted from a Grapevine poem published in 1956 and 1957.