“Recovery has opened doors to new possibilities; keep detaching from the negative, the uncertainty, and ask God to continue to open your heart to the hope, Love and mystery of New Life.”

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

Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations

Recovery leads us where we meet the fact that we are powerless to change some aspects of ourselves. But we can become ready to be changed. We can't make ourselves less perfectionistic, but we can become ready to let go of our demands for perfection. We can't force family harmony into our lives, but we can become more ready to be harmonious. We can't make a lasting love appear for us on command - but we can become ready for such a relationship when the opportunities appear. Recovery is a journey in progress, not perfection. Today, help me become ready for Your help for the change I need most in my life.

Saying “I Love You”

Richard Rohr

How can we enter into union with God? In German, the word abegescheidenheit translates into English as detachment. According to Meister Eckhart, detachment is the supreme virtue. eckhartsociety.com/resources/being-detached . Detachment comprehends all the other virtues – even faith and love and humility. To practice detachment from our fears, anxieties, shame, or pride, on the in-breath, hear God, Love, or Divinity saying, ‘I Love You’ to you. On the out breath, say back, with all your childlike heart, ‘I Love You’ to God. Repeat this deepest thought a few times. Whatever comes up while doing this breath prayer—joy, sorrow, fear, grief, anger, gratitude, shame—feel it, and hold it gently, and then let the feeling go. We come to believe in the deepest sense that God loves us all; with love for the Divine, we come to the belief that we, too, are loved.

Adapted from Richard Rohr Daily Meditations

A Deep Breath of Life

Alan Cohen

On the drive from the airport in Kahului on Maui to Kāʻanapali, there are rocks in the mountains that spell the word ‘ALOHA’. Every day, we have many opportunities to rearrange our rocks, and to decide what message to offer. Even if someone keeps perverting our message, we can keep affirming the truth we wish to establish. ALOHA is always more powerful than prejudice, criticism, or negativity. When all else falls away, it is the ALOHA we will remember. Today, God, ALOHA; give me the strength to answer negativity with love; to continue my actions on the basis & power of Your love.

Adapted from A Deep Breath of Life

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

About 6 years into my recovery, I was struggling with a sense of belonging, a sense of love. Sitting in my 2nd sponsor's office at Calvary Rehab, Bill Newhall told me three things that’s had a lasting impact on my life. After speaking to him about my flaws, my fears, my anxieties and my sense of failure, I was crying. Looking out his office window at downtown Phoenix, he said, “Steve, many men have sat here and cried. Know You Are Loved.” Next, he said, “Be Good to You.” And then, he said, “Just Be You.”

I said, “Bill, I don’t know that I’m loved. I don’t know how to be good to me; I continually tear myself down. And I’m not sure who I am; I’ve been trying so hard to manage everything and be perfect.” He smiled, and responded, “Close your eyes, take a step back, detach, and look at all of the goodness in your life. As far as not knowing who you are, just look at where you were. Recovery has opened doors to new possibilities; keep detaching from the negative, the uncertainty, and ask God to continue to open your heart to the hope, Love and mystery of New Life. One day at a time, it will all be OK, ‘little tottie.’”

Thank you, God, for the gift of detachment from demands and critical thinking; for faith in You to continue to hand me the keys to open doors to new joys of living.