“Healing happens in relationship. None of us are on the path alone.”

For Kevin and Amy — married for 27 years and companions in both struggle and hope — addiction, homelessness, and recovery have marked their journey. Together, they show us what it means to find new meaning — and then walk alongside others on the same path.

Their journey is part of a larger series on the six waypoints of transformation — a rhythm of healing we see again and again in people’s lives.

Waypoints 5 and 6: Finding New Meaning → Deepening Relationships

Kevin, once staying in a shelter for three years, now serves as an ISP ambassador. Amy, who supported him through it all, found her own missing spiritual link through companionship:

“It filled that missing link, that void I’d had for so many years.”

Why Finding New Meaning & Walking Together Matters

Kevin describes it simply:

“Spiritual companionship offers peace, peace of mind, both mentally and physically… That’s seeing God in all things.”

Kevin and Amy’s words point to a central truth: God is revealed in companionship. In Ignatian spirituality, we encounter God not only in solitude but also in the love, trust, and service we share with one another. To walk with others is to glimpse God’s presence on the road.

Research echoes what Kevin and Amy already know:

– The Ignatian Examen — a simple daily meditation that helps us notice God in our experiences and relationships — has been shown to increase hope, meaning, and life satisfaction in as little as two weeks  (Wiley, 2023).
– Social support and recovery circles are consistently linked with better abstinence, engagement, and quality of life (PubMed Central, 2021).
– One review found that strong social support led to a remarkable reduction in relapse episodes (PubMed Central, 2023).

Your Part in the Journey

This is the heart of the journey to healing: Finding New Meaning → Walking with Others. Because recovery is never walked alone, and God is always walking with us.

Continue exploring the six waypoints of transformation →

As Amy reminds us:

“We’re lifting each other up. We’re raising each other in our faith and spiritual growth… It takes a village.”