“acceptance and love is the doorway to a mysterious new world.”

While the ego perceives that withholding love is protecting us, it only hurts us. We are the one who lose. In our efforts to punish another, we punish ourselves. In attempting to maintain worldly security, we lose our spiritual security. Only giving love can keep us secure. Love is the real food of our soul; the way we get more is by giving it away. In Love we will find the doorway to the peace we seek. As I learn to give all the love I have received, the happier I am. Today, I will take a few moments to reflect back where I’m being critical & punishing. Where & how I can love more? Where am I holding back from giving what would be healing?

Our image of God creates us—or defeats us. There is an absolute connection between how we see God and how we see ourselves. The word “God” is a stand-in word for everything—Reality, truth; the very shape of our universe. Without an interior journey of prayer or inner experience, much of religion is largely childhood conditioning. A mature God creates mature people. A big God creates big people. A punitive God creates punitive people. In our recovery, the 12 Steps ask us to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. Today, I will share my journey so far in my search for a Higher Power.

It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act. There are two aspects to action. One is to overcome the distortions and afflictions of your own mind, that is, in terms of calming and eventually dispelling anger. This is action out of compassion. The other is more social, more public. When something needs to be done in the world to rectify the wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefitting others, one needs to be engaged, involved.

Meditation for the Day We are all seeking something, but many do not know what they want in life. They are seeking something because they are restless and dissatisfied, without realizing that faith in God can give an objective and a purpose to their lives. Many of us are at least subconsciously seeking for a Power greater than ourselves because that would give a meaning to our existence. If you have found that Higher Power, you can be the means of leading others aright, by showing them that their search for a meaning to life will end when they find faith and trust in God as the answer. Prayer for the Day I pray that my soul will lose its restlessness by finding rest in God. I pray that I may find peace of mind in the thought of God and His purpose for my life.