January 8: The Phone Weighs a Thousand Pounds

You have the number. You keep looking at it. You don’t want to bother anyone.

Paul tells the church in Galatia to carry each other’s burdens. He says that doing this fulfills the law of Christ. In other words, helping each other carry heavy things isn’t extra credit. It’s the heart of what following Jesus looks like.

That cuts two ways. It means you are meant to help others. It also means you are meant to let others help you. A burden can’t be shared if you never set it down in front of someone.

People in recovery talk about the phone weighing a thousand pounds. It’s true. Picking it up to say “I want a drink” or “I’m not doing well” can feel harder than almost anything. Pride tells you you should handle this yourself. Shame tells you they’ll think less of you. Fear tells you you’ll be a nuisance.

Here’s what usually happens instead. The person answers. They’ve been there. They aren’t annoyed. Often they are glad you called, because helping someone else helps keep them sober too. You talk for ten minutes, sometimes less, and the craving that felt enormous shrinks to its real size.

This connects to Step One. Admitting you can’t manage drinking alone isn’t just a sentence you say once. It becomes a practice. You prove you believe it every time you reach out instead of white-knuckling it by yourself.

Make the calls when things are fine, too. Practice when it’s easy. Then when it’s hard, the phone won’t feel so heavy, because you’ll already know the voice on the other end.

If you don’t have any numbers yet, that’s where to start. At your next meeting, ask two or three people if you can call them. Most will say yes and write their number down for you right there. Ask for women if you’re a woman, and men if you’re a man. It keeps things simple and safe.

One thing today

Call one sober person today, even if nothing is wrong. Just say, “I’m practicing making calls.” Most people will understand.

A prayer

Lord, I don’t like asking for help. Break down the pride that keeps me quiet. Help me pick up the phone today, and help me be someone who answers it for others.

Go deeper into Step One.

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