#109 The Pattern of Transformation
#109 The Pattern of Transformation

The Gathering With Roger B.

Roger B. and the group talk about the pattern of order, disorder and reorder, linking it to the 12 Steps, ego, pain and spiritual change in recovery. Personal shares bring the ideas down to earth, showing how surrender and community can reshape a life that once felt hopeless.

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1:07:21•16 Apr 2026

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About this podcast

The Gathering With Roger B.

Roger B.

The Gathering’s talks are generally tied to one or more of the 12 Steps, but are always guided by spiritual concepts, principles and ideas common to most faiths. Topics are drawn from a variety of sources: the 12 steps, many of the well-known wisdom texts, science and other teachers that speak to a spiritual solution to life's challenges. About Roger B. Roger has been in recovery for over 43 years and has spent thousands of hours in service, sharing his experience, strength and hope. He has created curriculum for treatment centers, and lead workshops and retreats throughout the United States and Canada. Roger is a certified Spiritual Director, and offers insight into spiritually-based living skills that are relevant to all people – whether in recovery or not. Roger is the first to admit that his long-term sobriety was brought about by the “trial-and-error method.” His experience reveals what has worked, and - perhaps more importantly - what has not worked, but taught him valuable life lessons. Roger B. and The Gathering with Roger B. are not affiliated, or endorsed by any third parties or 12-step programs. The Gathering on Zoom first and Third Wed 7pm CT id 728-200-4166 password 513915

Sobriety ToolkitSpiritualitySexualityPersonal GrowthUnderstanding Addiction

Episodes: 108

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The Pattern of Transformation: Order, Disorder and Reorder in Recovery

Episode Overview

Transformation is described as moving through order, disorder and reorder, mirrored in the structure of the 12 Steps.
The “beast” (ego) tries to keep people stuck in old ideas and self-will, even when those patterns are clearly failing.
Pain, chaos and bottoms are framed as necessary disorder that opens cracks for new ideas, surrender and spiritual growth.
Reorder shows up gradually through humility, community, service and a growing relationship with a higher power.
Recovery is described as a continual process of letting go, with trials acting like a spiritual gym that builds inner strength.

“Something has to leave for something to take its place.”

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? In this talk from *The Gathering With Roger B.*, the focus lands on what Richard Rohr calls the pattern of transformation: **order, disorder, reorder** – and how that pattern plays out in recovery and the 12 Steps. Roger links this pattern directly to the steps: **Admission (Step 1), Submission (Steps 2–7), Restitution (Steps 8–9), and Creation of a new life (Steps 10–12)**.

He describes the “beast” – that stubborn ego voice that insists, *“you don’t want to change… just try harder”* – and how clinging to old ideas makes growth so painful.

As he puts it, *“Something has to leave for something to take its place.”* You’ll hear how childhood “order” can turn into a fearful, scarcity-based worldview, how “disorder” shows up as bottoms, grief and chaos, and how “reorder” isn’t a shortcut to bliss but a gradual shift into humility, service and genuine connection.

The group shares bring this to life: Justin realises *“the jail that I put myself in… the door wasn’t locked,”* Dave talks about praying out of desperation, and Kirsten jokes about learning to do taxes early instead of living in chaos. There’s also practical spiritual stuff here: surrendering what you’re powerless over, using pain as a signal to go deeper, and spotting the beast by its favourite tools – fear, victimhood, shame and the need for approval.

Roger reminds everyone that recovery is a “spiritual gym”, where trials strengthen character: *“Trees grow strong by reason of winds and storms.”* This is aimed at people in 12-step recovery (or curious about it) who want a more spiritual, honest conversation about change, rather than quick fixes. If you’re sensing that your old ideas aren’t working anymore, could this order–disorder–reorder pattern be exactly what you’re living through right now?

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