The Principle of Spirituality
By Kate P.
Every other Monday night in Betton House, dinner topics are replaced by a student getting up to teach the 12 steps of AA. “We’ve been doing this ever since Betton house, (formerly Family One), started,” said Family Leader Robin Ducey. The purpose of this is to keep the principles and steps of AA fresh in students’ minds. Student Rachel R. taught the first step by reading quotes out of the Big Book. “I read the sections that were important to my program. I also described my own experience with the first step,” said Rachel.
Some students use different methods to demonstrate the steps. They will either read out of the “Big Book” or they describe their experiences with the program and make posters or write papers. The Family Foundation School is based on the AA program and new students are required to learn the 12 steps within their first two weeks here. After that, if they are not attentive to the program, they can often forget what the steps and the school prayers are.
Monday night dinners are not the only time that Betton House focuses on spirituality. Every day before lunch the family gathers in the living room and prays two prayers from different religious traditions. Family staff Panava Markao came up with the idea of praying before lunch time. It creates a calming atmosphere for the family and allows students time afterwards to determine who should get up at the table and check in or talk about issues with jobs, or dorm troubles.
Recently, Robin has also been reading a page a day from The Way of the Pilgrim. In the book a man is searching for the way to learn how to pray consistently throughout the day. “It’s important to have a prayer life and different methods of praying,” said Robin. Prayer is a consistent goal for Betton House students and it has brought a great positive light and unity into the family.
