Because of a piece I have been writing for a workshop, I have been thinking about the importance of having an open heart if we want to heal and help others heal too. Only very recently I found myself in a downward spiral emotionally, a spiral not unfamiliar to me. I have suffered from chronic depression for much of my life. I am happy to say I have received help for it, but I can still wander into the shadowy places if I turn away from the people and experiences God has sent to help me grow. What makes me withdraw, emotionally, remains a mystery but every few[...]
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Be here now
6 I spent the first four decades of my life mostly living in the past or anticipating the future. I had no awareness that was what I was doing. It astounds me, actually, that a person as well educated as I was could be so unaware of the nuances of my life. But quite truthfully, I was pretty consistently blind to the moment and the people crossing my path. I don't mean that I didn't see them but I didn't allow their presence the opportunity to rise to the level of true awareness. I glanced, perhaps listened superficiality to their words, but stayed heavil[...]
I heard a talk by author and speaker Earnie Larson a few decades ago and he said, so simply, "Wherever you go, there you are." I had never heard this phrase before and was rocked by it. It was so simple and yet so profound. I had only been sober about three years at the time and was pretty confused about many of the ideas I was being introduced to on this path. At first I thought he was making a joke and then I let the statement have its proper impact. Wow. I had been switching people, meetings, places, relationships and philosophies all of my life, e[...]
