“When you told me alcohol is only a symptom, that I have to get down to causes & conditions, I knew you were right, but was afraid of what I might discover.”

Spirituality is the art of transfiguration. We should not force ourselves to change by hammering our lives into any predetermined shape. We do not need to operate according to the idea of a predetermined program or plan for our lives. Rather, we need to practice a new art of attention to the inner rhythm of our days and lives.

The prayer of Quiet, divinization, universal restoration, and the importance of practice—all are often the most neglected parts of building connection with The Spirit. Out in the desert, our mothers and fathers had no one to impress, no need to cultivate a reputation. These two questions are the heart of desert spirituality: (1) What do I learn to ignore and what do I learn to love? (2) What needs to die in my life and what do I need to affirm unreservedly? Today, I ask for the courage to go inward to further the depth of gratitude & love; to share with others my struggles, and the tools I’ve been given to overcome them.

Pay attention. Perhaps through service You might come to know The Face of the Beloved.