“When I discovered drugs & alcohol, magic happened!”

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

Elohai N’shama – My Pure Soul

Rabbi Plavin

“My God, the soul which you have given me is pure.” Within each of us is a wise, compassionate essence of goodness that knows how to relate harmoniously. I invite you to feel It. Allow It to enter your awareness. Give yourself permission to know It, just in this moment — arising and passing, but always present. IT is always there for you to return to when you are lost & confused. The pure soul exists in everyone — no exceptions. Let us rest in this pure breath, this pure soul. Today, as I go through my day, help me to unburden my difficulties to You, and to remember to give thanks for perfect The Soul You have given me.

Sons And Daughters Of The Buddha

Christopher Titmuss

“Meditation is to see deeply into things, to see how we can change, how we can transform our situation. To transform our situation is to transform our minds. To transform our minds is also to transform our situation, because the situation is mind and mind is situation. Awakening is important.”

Meditation for the Day

"The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance forever. Only when the soul attains this calm can true spiritual work be done. The mind and soul and body can be made strong to conquer and bear all things. Peace is the result of righteousness. There is no peace in wrongdoing; yet as we learn to live the way God wants us to live, quietness and assurance follow. Assurance is that calmness born of a deep certainty of God's strength, available to us and in His power, to love and guard us from all harm and wrong doing. Today, I pray that I may attain a state of true calmness in The Spirit. I pray that I may live in quietness and peace deep within my soul.”

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

Yesterday the Rabbi led the congregation with the Elohai Neshamah ( אֱלֹהַי נְשָׁמָה)

The breakdown in Hebrew: · אֱלֹהַי (Elohai): My God. · נְשָׁמָה (Neshamah): The Soul You have given me is pure.

I reflected back, hearing these words as a kid, and the chanting of the prayer in Hebrew. It’s a calling of awareness of The Perfect Soul; not a demand to stay perfect. This foundational element and bridge to The Spirit & Soul is symbolic of my lack of inner peace. When I discovered drugs & alcohol, magic happened! I felt connected, at peace with myself, able to concentrate, perform, and be in tune with the world. I was going to conquer everything, I was invincible. Traveling & selling accessories from the Pierre Cardin Group, I was having a fresh orange juice mimosa with my Department Store clients at the Plaza Hotel in El Paso. I ran out of my drugs. In a panic, I called my connection. FedEx delivered the next day, and I swore I’d never run out again.

Years later, after being fired, alone in Motel 6’s and Super 8’s throughout New Mexico, broke, sweating, shaking and underweight, I made it back to my home in Arizona. A few weeks later, I walked into my first meeting. Dazed & confused, I looked around thinking I’d made a mistake. How are these stupid people going to help me? They don’t look like they have a clue. But you came up to me afterwards, handed me a book, a meeting list and a sponsor. Thank you, thank you. Little did I know these tools were the new magic; tools that have connected me with the Spirit deep inside, and a wonderful fellowship closer to my home, with new & wonderful life!