The Phoenix
Most people know the story of the Phoenix bird which dies by fire, but is reborn and rises up from the ashes.
But what many people miss is this: It’s the Phoenix bird itself that builds the fine nest of aromatic wood and then deliberately sets it on fire… because it knows this is the only way it can be reborn.
We alcoholics can take this story to heart, as many of us had to destroy the life we’d been living in order to be reborn as sober men.
But the lesson we learn in sobriety is to how to set a “controlled fire” within ourselves that burns away our old ideas and expectations instead of everything and everyone around us.
In this way, we can change, at depth, without causing so much collateral damage, as we did with our drinking.
We also learn, eventually, that it’s only a Divine flame that’s hot enough to do this sacred work and must be kindled with care, through Conscious Contact with our Maker.
We seem to understand, deep within us, that this is really the only way we can ever be reborn.
--- Michael Powers
