Most all of my life, I have considered myself "different." That belief has been reflected back to me by many others. Certainly, most of my life was different than the norm in it's outward appearance. I mean, not a lot of people lived in a cabin on a mountain as a child, with no water or electricity. Few studied by candlelight, or broke the ice on the creek to wash their face. At least, that is not the norm nowadays, except for maybe those unfortunate enough to be experiencing homelessness, and the few hardy souls that have chosen to live off the grid. I haven't watched TV a majority of my life. That alone has given me a whole different slant on life than those who are immersed in the culture of television.
Yet, it is not the differences that matter most to my heart and my experience of my Higher Power. It is working the steps on my flavor of insanity that awakens my awareness of our commonality, of the love of a community dedicated to this spiritual journey, of the similarity we reflect in our humanity. Every time I remember "There but for the Grace of God go I," it seems most apparent that I am far less different than I might consider myself. I may be unique, but so is every other person on this planet. We share that trait. Even in our differences we are the same.
