It's said that football is the great national pastime. For sure, it's a good excuse for parties, for waging bets, for eating chips and chili. Many who don't much like the game gather in the living rooms of friends any way. Being part of a group feels good to most of us. And many of us lived outside "the group" for far too many years. I can well remember the early decades of my lif[...]
0 EVERY EXPERIENCE IS OFFERING THE NEXT “RIGHT” LESSON AND THE RIGHT PARTNER TO LEARN IT WITH. This idea can be exceedingly comforting. The past is not a pretty sight for many of us who finally wander into the rooms of recovery. My early life was replete with experiences that were ugly, oftentimes dangerous, and according to others, on the edge of insanity far too often. But I sur[...]
IF IT ISN’T LOVE, IT’S ALWAYS FEAR. I was first introduced to this idea as I timidly began my spiritual quest in the 1970’s. This concept, along with so many others woven into the many and varied books I was reading, broadened my perspective on how to experience life and the many relationships I seemed to be “inviting along for the ride.” Becoming a student of myriad spiritu[...]
As I said in my last post, I have been trying to manage the schedule of many others so that my impending hip replacement could be done at a time that benefits me. I succeeded. God did get his will in line with mine. Of course, I am making a joke here. But it did happen smoothly once I got myself out of the way. While it's true I did have a window of time that worked best for me be[...]
I have been out of sorts lately. I have been told I need a hip replacement and I have a very busy travel schedule. I know when I would prefer having the surgery. However, God's plan may be different from mine. Every thing I have "preached" for years has come back to haunt me. It's time to practice what I so freely preach. We are always in the right place at the right time. Ther[...]
Every person we travel these roads with have made their trek to us because they need us and what we know as much as we need them for what they can teach us. This idea has been stressed in earlier essays but it’s one worth further emphasis because of the importance of the journey we share. Knowing that every person is specific to our education means we don’t have to be fearful about[...]
Detachment is taking responsibility for our own life. Not blaming others for anything that has happened to us in this life is the mark of spiritual maturity. It’s also a goal that most of us have to spend years striving to attain. It’s not unusual to want to make others responsible for our failures or for our insufficiencies. Being told that the circumstances of our birth, the unlov[...]
I had an opportunity to meet some one I took an instant dislike to at a friend’s home recently. Every thing about the man got under my skin. He was loud; he didn’t listen to others when they spoke; he seemed particularly dismissive of women; he was very judgmental, from my perception, and it seemed we had nothing in common. And then I heard him mention he was in recovery. What a dif[...]
I was at a wonderful twelve step meeting Tuesday night. It's a closed discussion meeting and whatever the topic, it always elicits great comments and personal exploration; but Tuesday's meeting was particularly special because a man, likely in his early 50's, had shown up for his very first meeting. And this gave all of us pause to reflect on our own story of what it was like as compar[...]
EVERY LOVING THOUGHT IS TRUE. EVERY THING ELSE IS AN APPEAL FOR HEALING AND HELP. This particular spiritual principle has become very important to my peace of mind. It gives me a simple shorthand for interpreting the experiences I am having. For much of my life, I was quick to judge others for their actions, their opinions, even their appearance. I’d like to say I have outgrown all of[...]