“Landing into the rooms of recovery almost 42 years ago, I certainly didn’t feel hope.”

Three readings. A song that says the rest. And inspiration for whatever this day is here to teach.

A lone surfer riding inside a great curling wave

Read — the readings that opened the day

Everything Will Be All Right in the End

Richard Rohr

“The term ‘Hades’ in the Bible, often translated as ‘hell,’ refers to a place of the dead, not necessarily an eternal place of punishment. The Brazilian writer and journalist Fernando Sabino wrote, “In the end, everything will be okay. If it's not okay, it's not yet the end.” That’s what today is all about: “Everything will be okay in the end.” Today is the celebration of hope, direction, purpose, meaning, and community. We’re all in this together. Easter is not just about Jesus; God promises to all, Life is not ended, it merely changes.“

Adapted from Richard Rohr Daily Meditations

We Agnostics, p. 25

“The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves. If you are as seriously alcoholic as we were, we believe there is no middle-of-the-road solution. We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives: One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help.”

Adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book)

Today’s Gift

Thought for the Day “None of us, perhaps, ever thought we'd end up in recovery. But we were working at joining recovery years before we got here! Maybe recovery was our fate from the day we first took a drink or a pill. Others around us could see the writing on the wall, but we couldn't. We were too busy trying to avoid pain. Or chasing the illusion of power & control. Just for today, let's welcome the Spirit of recovery into our lives. We have been given new life; we have found our spiritual home. Prayer for the Day Higher Power, I got lost because I acted like I knew the way to a good life. You lead the way. Thank You for putting me on the right track.”

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

Easter Sunday. It’s also the last day of Passover. What is it really all about? Waking up today, I sat on the sofa looking into the fireplace. The thought came to me that before recovery, the only thing that sparked my Spirit was drugs, alcohol and the chase for success. Like Bill W. wrote in his story “The drive for success was on. I’d prove to the world I was important.”

Landing into the rooms of recovery almost 42 years ago, I certainly didn’t feel hope. Dazed, confused, beaten, I had lost at the game of life.

It was over.

Then, you carried a message to me; ‘it’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.’ You opened me to the mystery of Faith, of acceptance & Love, to a new understanding and purpose. I was reborn, yet didn’t know it until years later. Whatever your religious affiliation, please know you’re loved! Thank you for showing me a different way. I want to be with you everywhere!

Today is the new beginning of life beyond your wildest dreams. It was for me, and I’m not that special!