“Today, a connection with God is the most important piece of the puzzle.”

My first sponsor told me there were two things to say about prayer and meditation: first, I had to start and second, I had to continue! When I came to A.A. my spiritual life was bankrupt; if I considered God at all, He was to be called upon only when my self-will was incapable of a task, or when overwhelming fears had eroded my ego. Today I am grateful for a new life, one in which my prayers are those of thanksgiving. My prayer time is more for listening than for talking. I know today that if I cannot change the wind, I can adjust my sail.

The contemplative life must provide an area, a space of liberty, of silence, in which possibilities are allowed to surface and new choices—beyond routine choice—become manifest. It should create a new experience of time, not a blank to be filled or an untouched space to be conquered and violated. We open ourselves to a space which can enjoy its own presence; a space not dominated by one’s own ego and its demands. Hence, open to others—compassionate time, rooted in the sense of our common illusions, and in criticism of it all.

Meditation for the Day “Faith is the messenger that bears your prayers to God. Prayer can be like incense, rising ever higher and higher. The prayer of faith is the prayer of trust that feels the presence of God, which it rises to meet. It can be sure of some response from God. We can say a prayer of thanks to God every day for His grace, which has kept us on the right path and allowed us to start living the good life. So we should pray to God with faith and trust and gratitude. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may feel sure of some response to my prayers. I pray that I may be content with whatever form that response takes.”