“The 12 Steps are not a cure; thank God for a solution to feed my heart, instead of my head.”

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

Today’s Gift from Touchstones

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

“Much of our lives may have been lived on a roller coaster of major crises. As terrible as it seemed, it was not dull. Today may seem rather boring. But in recovery we learn to appreciate the more subtle trickle that a good day can be. Simply continuing with the flow - of our program, of faithfulness to our values, of being emotionally present in our relationships - adds up to a rich life. May I see the continuity of my life in the simple moments of this day.”

Adapted from Touchstones

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Meditation for the Day “Cooperation with God is the great necessity for our lives. All else follows naturally. Cooperation with God is the result of our consciousness of His presence. Guidance is bound to come to us as we live more and more with God, as our consciousness becomes more and more attuned to the great Consciousness of the universe. We must have many quiet times when we not so much ask to be shown and led by God, as to feel and realize His presence. New spiritual growth comes naturally from cooperation with God. Prayer for the Day I pray that God may supply me with strength and show me the direction in which He wants me to grow. I pray that these things may come naturally from my cooperation with Him.”

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

When I first got to the 3rd Step, I asked, “Are you trying to baptize me? What is this? How can God fix my marriage, my debt, my shame, my failure at life?” My sponsor laughed, which pissed me off. He said, “Steve, this is not a religious program. It’s a way to connect with a Spirit, a Power greater than you. The only thing you need to know is that there is a God and you’re not it!”

We then read Bill’s story, where he says “That statement hit me hard. It melted the icy intellectual mountain in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years. I stood in the sunlight at last. It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself. Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning.” Next, we prayed together for a God I didn’t understand to relieve me of the bondage of self, and I slowly started on the 4th Step list of grudges, fears and sexual issues I had. More was revealed, and a lot more still to this day.

Looking back, all I can say is thank you God for the gift of desperation and gift of willingness. And thank you for a life filled with a solution and fellowship for my mental, spiritual and physical problems.

The 12 Steps are not a cure; thank God for a solution to feed my heart, instead of my head.