MANDATE

Birthing is a painful thing,
It leaves us tired and torn.
but there is easing of the sting,
when we see what we have born.

There before us shining bright,
In all it's wondrous glory,
Is LSR, the newest light,
In recoveries' exciting story.

Our chests swell up with pride,
And we look around and grin.
We hang on for the coming ride,
We cannot wait to begin.

The major work we feel is done,
The rest but follow through.
Then we find we've just begun,
There's way too much to do.

No one seems to have the sight,
Of where we need to be.
The torch is losing all its' light,
And we are lost at sea.

But there are those who hang in there,
Who hold when some are gone.
Those who know we need to dare,
To keep on keeping on.

So though our hearts are heavy,
and we know there may be a fight.
And though we know we'll pay a levy,
We'll try with all our might.

Then resolute we wade right in,
holding our heads up high.
With a solemn promise we begin
To fashion the future - do or die.

But then we meet our sisters and brothers,
And know the sweetness of love.
And happy expectation hovers
On the wings of that snow white dove.

We smile again that happy smile
and grin the widest grin,
for peace is ours for a while
and work calls us to begin.

We know that when we leave this place,
That hope will come to those
Who need a real recovery space
in which to leave their woes.

We know that we will be just fine,
And the growing pains survive.
We know that F2F and now for those online,
That there's the choice for LSR - a way to stay alive.

So as we go to meet this test,
We pledge to do it right.
We pledge ourselves to this our quest,
To do it with all our might.

With so very much to do,
We must put the past behind us.
We must not fail - we must be true,
So there will be a recovery bus.

Let us hold our mandate high
as we go upon our way
So recovery by choice is ever nigh
for all who seek one day.

Bill Somers
2/27/2003
Dedicated the hard working folks of the 2003 LSR Congress