““Show me what to do next” is really steps 1,2,3 combined as a mocktail!”

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

To Turn, Overturn, or Transform

biblicalhebrew.org

Many of us are tempted to seek an escape from this moment instead of trusting that God’s healing is possible for us now — that even this moment can be good. The Hebrew verb הָפַךְ means “to turn,” “to overturn,” “to change,” or “to transform.” It is used in both literal and figurative senses: turning something over (like a person, a relationship, a hurt in oursleves); it leads to transformation of our heart. This word is highly flexible, inviting divine judgment, reversal of fortune, inner change, and more.

Step Seven

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Then, in A.A., we looked and listened. Everywhere we saw failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless assets. We heard story after story of how humility had brought strength out of weakness. In every case, pain had been the price of admission into a new life. But this admission price had purchased more than we expected. It brought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain.

Meditation for the Day / Prayer for the Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

I must arise from the death of sin and selfishness and put on a new life of integrity. All the old sins and temptations must be laid in the grave, and a new existence rises from the ashes. Yesterday is gone. All my sins are forgiven if I am honestly trying to do God's will today. Today is here, the time of resurrection and renewal. I must start now, today, to build a new life of complete faith and trust in God and a determination to do His will in all things. I pray that I may share in making the world a better place to live in. I pray that I may do what I can to bring goodness a little nearer to the earth.

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

At the Lunch Bunch Mtg, many people talked about the distractions and irritations of life. Looking back, using drugs and alcohol worked; it got the noise, uncertainties and inner conflicts out of the way; like the Alka Seltzer slogan, “Fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is!”

(An alcoholic must have come up with that!)

The first word in the 12 Steps is “WE;” that the substitute for a chemical solution is turning to another person, to turn to the unsuspected inner resource called God.

On the phone yesterday with my cousins in Cincinnati baking up pastry for an upcoming Bar Mitzvah, it reminded me how you showed me how to turn my thoughts and actions to be of service. “Show me what to do next” is really steps 1,2,3 combined as a mocktail!

Later, at home with Gail, we got on the internet to work on a trip in July together. Calls dropped, messages to be called back, webpage detours, sold out situations, we kept looking at each other and turned it over. “Show me what to do next” I said!

I can’t stay stuck being the King of Pain; thanks for a solution other than turning and heading for the bar at Charlie Clarks, or worse, the neon lights and illusions in Vegas!