b'alternative ways to prevail. recovery journey soon took off. Today, Kathleen is Food pantries utilized home deliveries anda certified recovery specialist, an ordained minis-drive-up options. David said. Our signatureter and chaplain trained in substance use disorder home visits to provide help with food, rent, and(SUD), a Hazelden Betty Ford spiritual care pro-utility assistance were done by phone and Zoomfessional, and the owner of Threads of Spirituality technologies. Our Conference (chapter) meetings(www.threadsofspirituality.com).including prayer were held by Zoom calls. In her work at Hazelden, she saw so many Because churches were closed and in-personpeople suffering as the pandemic took its grip; Spirituality is the most critical piece to sustained recovery.Those who suffer dont fully know what they are yearning for: they dont know what it is. It feels like pain. It manifests in restlessness. It is likely rooted in trauma. visits were restricted, Society membershipisolation causes many who struggle to relapse. declined, and the organization today focuses itsGod gave her clarity as she spoke with others in future on restoring those membership numbers.ministry who felt a heavier weight of those who Despite the limitations, from 20202021, Vincen- were suffering. Kathleen expanded her retreats tians visited with more than 1.5 million peopleto include pastors, practitioners, and those in in need and served more than 4.2 million peopleministry who serve on the front lines of addic-overall, offering an estimated total value of moretion to teach about the spirituality of recovery.than $1.5 billion in services.I really just want people to feel comfortable, to feelin their own ministry and in their own Recovering the spirit:skinnot flustered or nervous about talking to Threads of Spiritualitysomebody in addiction, Kathleen said.W hen Kathleen McCauley began as anIn some circles, recovery is sparked by tough active recovery retreat leader over 25love from family and loved ones. But for those years ago, she was eight years intoof us in the trenches with ministry, Kathleen her own sobriety journey, attending AA meetingssaid, my thing is this: a person cannot get sober whenever she had a chance. People at meetingson negation. We get sober, we get traction to kept telling her that they needed a retreat, so sheclimb out of the addiction with the positive.started conducting recovery retreats in her house.People who suffer are used to family members Over the years, she could hear the common threadtelling them what they cant do: You cant drink. that everyone struggled with: Whats the spiritu- Whats more effective, Kathleen said, is to ality thing? Hosting retreats where participantschange the message to positive, from I cant explore the role that spirituality could play in thehave a drink because Im an alcoholic or I 16 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022'