In Florida I have been certified as a Recovery Support Specialist since 2008. It did not necessitate a history of lived chemical addiction. I did not hide my past, I just hadn’t thought it relevant so many years later. Others are certified there as Peer Recovery Specialists by virtue of their lived experience with chemical abuse. In seeking to extend my certification to Alabama, I was told I will not be allowed to certify in Alabama as a Recovery Support Specialist because of my lack of chemical abuse lived experience, as it is required for any recovery certification here. I almost accepted that judgment, then I remembered years in college and young adulthood when periodic excesses in drinking led to loss of self control and even blacking out, with accompanying guilt and shame and risk-taking behavior. As I became a parent and was later drawn into recovery ministry, that distant past had not really influenced me any longer. I had in fact, quit alcohol altogether. So my personal testimony has never actually included that youthful frailty. I know now that it was the grace of God that protected me then and also gave me compassion for women battling addictive behaviors, including relationship depency and anger. Perhaps I do indeed need to apply for CRSS status here, including what seemed like ancient history but was actually redeemed preparation for ministry among peers.
A decade or more ago I wrote this about the Apostle Paul:
“Telling Ourselves the Truth about Who We Are
The Apostle Paul grew in self-awareness and understanding throughout his Christian journey.
Early on, before his encounter with Christ on the Damascus Rd. – Paul (known as Saul
before his conversion) considered himself a “righteous” man, a committed Jew. He was a Roman citizen whose responsibility it was to hunt down and destroy followers of Christ, whom he believed were blasphemers against God. He believed he had lived his life with a perfectly good conscience before God and identified himself as a Pharisee. He participated in the stoning death of Stephen, the disciple, who was the first person martyred for Christ. Acts 7:54-8:3, Acts 23:1, 6
2.) After Christ appeared to him on the Damascus Rd., changing his name from Saul to Paul, and opening his eyes to the truth of the gospel, Paul’s opinion of himself was that he was entitled to be among the “apostles” because he had seen Jesus personally and, even so, he called himself “the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle.” Acts 23, 26, Philippians 3:4-6, 1 Cor. 15:9
Later in Paul’s journey, he has an even more realistic view of himself, realizing that
Among ALL believers in Christ (referred to as “the saints”), he is the very least among believers. Ephesians 3:8.
Toward the end of his life, in correspondence with his son in the faith, Timothy, he is most realistic and honest of all about himself when he proclaims, “I am the chief of all sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15
Paul had learned, like we must also, that we are not good in and of ourselves. Nor are we good based on things we’ve done or the people with whom we associate or the jobs we do. Also, we cannot compare ourselves to others and attempt to find ourselves more worthy. The only standard of comparison is the standard of Jesus Christ himself. And when we stand in that truth, we come to see who we really are……sinners in need of a savior, in fact, in our brokenness and realistic view of ourselves we see that we are the ones most in need of Christ’s saving work.”
Today, as I reflect on the certification conversation and my own life, it seems that my own journey is much like Paul’s. The longer I live leaning into Christ, the more I begin to see the fullness of my own sins and Christ’s patience and mercy in bringing me to a fuller understanding of His continuing salvific work in me.
(CBB 4/29/25)