The Narrow Way Is Still the Way

Dear Readers: I’m reposting this from my Sage Sayings & Slogans Facebook page, because it’s relevant and useful for all of us. Also cuz it’s closely related to the next Blessed blog 😘

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Dear Wonderful People,

In keeping with the principles of recovery—and of Jesus—I’m sharing some news by inviting you into my messy, but hopefully instructive, process.

There will surely be more.

When I first published Sage Sayings & Slogans (itself a costly, painful, redemptive saga for another time), I was flat broke, desperate, and scrambling to survive. That posture is not conducive to creativity or pure motives (please see Matthew 6:24)…or is it? I longed to reflect on the book and share thoughtful insights, ESH, clever reels, and spiritual musings—but those things require time, margin, and creative freedom.

This is the terrible bind for many creatives and people in ministry (no coincidence): we still need to eat and pay the mortgage while staying aligned with a calling that resists the world’s pressure to hustle and self-promote. In fact, that kind of striving can kill the very joy and Spirit that inspired the work to begin with (Hmmm). God’s design for community was different (see Acts 2:44–45 and 4:32–35 or the 12 Traditions), and I know firsthand how He sometimes thwarts our efforts when we start to serve mammon, or ourselves, instead of Him.

So, I tried listing my home FSBO and meanwhile allocated a microscopic sum to bring on lovely Kate—a young Christian single mom in recovery—to help launch a social media plan for Sage Sayings & Slogans. Kate is competent, inspired, and efficient. Thoroughly millennial, she suggested using AI to generate some content—because it’s fast and surprisingly accurate. At first, I wasn’t thrilled (read: not at all), but given our constraints, I said, “Let’s give it a try.” I didn’t want to be a Luddite—those 20th-century folks who opposed progress like the telephone. So… I let Kate and her AI helper at it.

Meanwhile, I had to shift gears for some meaningful and spiritually demanding (and income-generating) work, plus a beautiful trip with my college-bound son. I had to let the rest go for a while.

Revival and the Risk of Ego

More recently, my patient and loving God has led me to yet another stop on this challenging, formative lifelong pilgrimage. He’s opened up a deeply recovery-related opportunity that I’ll share soon, because you—this community—are part of the group conscience needed to discern and advance God’s purposes.

Because it’s never about me. (Darn it.)

As part of this long season, I’ve been digging ever deeper into the historic roots of Twelve Step recovery, seeing more and more that it's a brilliant distillation of First Century Church practice, very practically expressed by the Oxford Group revival movement.

For real.

I’ve been compelled by God and my own failures, wounds, and the baffling, banal evil I’ve witnessed—both petty and criminal—often perpetrated by truly wonderful people who should have known better. People in church. People in the rooms. Everywhere. People who couldn’t—or wouldn’t—own their part, even when confronted or crushed.

Naturally, I can spot it, because I’ve got it.

Really. God never lets us see or go through anything He doesn’t intend to use to serve others.

With a refreshed, reverential fear of God and a desire for more spiritual freedom, I’ve been trying to live more faithfully to the inspired Oxford Group and early 12-step practices--practical, transformative, and less exhausting than my way. One such practice—the Four Absolutes (absolute honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love)—has been a game-changer in my quiet times. I’m attaching a little overview (created by me + our AI friend), still a work in progress, but useful.

Another powerful rediscovery: the Oxford Group practiced open confession about all defects/sins, present tense, (without graphic detail), not as some religious performance, but as a way to clear the conscience and remove barriers to God, self, and others. This wasn’t shame-based. It was about humility and spiritual freedom. This happened in an intimate, like-minded community.

Because if we don’t tell the Truth, we become delusional. We disconnect from God and race (or stroll) off a cliff, often oblivious, and hurt ourselves and others in the process. Sometimes irreparably. Jesus warned us about this. So did Paul. So did Frank Buchman—the founder of the Oxford Group, a Lutheran minister who’d gone off the rails due to ego, ambition, and resentment😅. He found his way back through surrender and repentance, and launched the explosive revival that inspired Bill Wilson and the Twelve Steps.

Sadly, as the Oxford Group mushroomed in reach and influence, Frank became a lauded, applauded, and affluent hero—and he started to slip. Over time, both he and the movement succumbed to ego, literally edging God out. This is what happens when self-will edges God out—even when we start strong.

And it can happen fast. Addicts know how baffling self-justification is—but is it really so different with any other sin? Whether it’s resentment, greed, gluttony, fear, or ambition, once we drift from God, the slide begins. We just don’t always see it until damage is done.

It helps me to know this is a condition "common to man," whether a pastor or a pauper. That equalizing reality of the Gospel is comforting. We're all in this together.

We can't. He can. Let him.

Jesus meant what He said: “Be perfect.” Not because we can be—but because God’s holy standard reveals our absolute need for Him. The Oxford Group’s purpose was to cultivate that surrendered dependence. That’s what the Steps are meant to do, too. But when EGO edges God out, things go sideways. Confession and amends keep the lines clear so evil doesn’t take root.

Oxford Group folks gathered daily—read Scripture, prayed, confessed, sang, and shared their experience, strength, and hope—because staying on the narrow path requires that much intimacy with God in like-minded community (see Acts 2:46). They held each other accountable, in love, knowing defects can destroy us. This wasn’t judgment. It was humility and mutual protection. And everyone—everyone—was equal in need of mercy and grace.

Why We Still Confess (And What AI Has to Do With It)

So, in the spirit of rigorous honesty: many of the recent posts have been created by Kate’s AI helper, Jaxon. Some I’ve reviewed and edited. Many I haven’t. Those who know my writing know. It wasn’t deliberate subterfuge—but I didn’t fully name it either. God nudged me, and I want to walk in Truth. I’m still discerning how AI can serve us without subtly replacing the Spirit. At its best, I believe AI can be a powerful, God-given collaborator—when it's under Spirit-led supervision. But inspiration is still holy. And irreplaceable. God is still big enough to speak through anything—movies, billboards, license plates… maybe even AI.

I’m working on a policy that is likely to change.

At the moment, Kate is mid-cross-country move from California to Nashville and may not have gotten my voice message, so this week’s posts stay. (If you read this, Kate—it’s all good!)

More is being revealed by the minute.

I share all this not just as full disclosure, but to encourage you: get honest. With God. With yourself. With others.

If you’re fear-laden, suffering intensely—physically, mentally, or spiritually—consider the potential prompt. Is God inviting you to clarity, confession, and course-correction?

Test Drive the Four Absolutes

Conduct an experiment. Are you operating out of absolute honesty, purity, selflessness, and love? Are those closest to you seeking to? If not, chances are you're out of alignment with Jesus and not walking in the Spirit. There's going to be pain, shame, and all kinds of trouble.

True to form, I wonder, "What's in it for me?"

Happy, joyous, purposeful, peaceful, and free.

It also helps to know that my failure to meet Christ's glorious standard is not condemnation. It's an invitation to invite Him to the process and to change us. In fact, whatever it is you're longing for may be God's will for you...in his way and his time.

(Learn more by reading the Four Absolutes insert.)

Sometimes love isn’t strong enough to change us. Sometimes, only the fear of God is.

Our Heavenly Father is not a cosmic killjoy. He just knows what’s best for us and invites us to trust him… of our own free will. He loves us too much to let us wander away.

That fear you're feeling? It may be pointing to re/turn to Jesus.

Thanks for reading this long update. Hope it helps you.

God’s love and peace,

Isabella 💖

P.S.

BTW—this post started as one of my trademark, long-winded, self-therapizing streams of consciousness. My AI friend helped me edit it into something more readable (and hopefully more helpful). It’s still me—just a little clearer, kinder to your time, and less likely to send you spiraling. 😅

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19xXnGT-wfk_Dj5h6oO07j5R2GMicnJoVZlwryrHRsm0/edit?usp=drivesdk

#SoberInsight #RigorousHonesty #SpiritLedRecovery #WatchAndPray #ConfessionAndClarity #FearOfGodFreedom