“Not being in charge, miracles and surprises kept happening.”

“Life seems to be a continuous pattern of getting committed to things and having to let go - falling in love and losing the one we love, developing a job skill and having to change careers, caring for our children and letting them go off into the world. This is the rhythm of life, and our spiritual growth teaches us to make peace with it. Participating fully in the rhythm is how we become whole. Avoiding commitments and staying uninvolved may keep us safe from risks. They also keep us near our dangerous old patterns. Our program works when we can freely let ourselves go. First, we commit to our recovery program with no reservations. We know we face losses as part of life. We will have the strength to grieve them and move on. God, give me the inner-liberty today to let go of myself and open to Your loving care.”

Adapted from Touchstones Meditations

“The beast you ride is your various appetites. Change your wantings. When you prune weak branches, the remaining fruit get tastier.”

Adapted from Rumi, ed. Coleman Barks, p. 151

“Our natural egocentricity wants to make God into who we want God to be. The role of the prophets is to keep people free for God and to keep God free for people. In the 4th century, St. Augustine said, “If you comprehend it, it is not God.” The First Commandment (Exodus 20:2–5) says that we’re not supposed to make or worship any graven images of God. The mystery of God offers us resilience; for Faith — the ability to trust and let go. Today, I will look back and give thanks for the Great Mystery; for a God who, although I may not fully understand, has worked miracles in my life.”

Adapted from Richard Rohr Daily Meditations

“To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand dharmas. The path of Zen as a cultivation of skill in five domains: Meditation, Study, Communication, Action, and Caring. Today, I open to my heart to hear every sound as the sound of the dharma. To see every sight as the sight of the dharma. To experience every place as nirvana. The very cushion upon which we sit is the lotus land.”

Adapted from The Five Ranks and Dogen’s Genjokoan