“You’ve given me an alternative to all the noise, despair and fear in the world.”

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

Do Not Be Afraid

Richard Rohr

“Do not be afraid.” “Why this word over and over again? Because we’re afraid! We’re wrapped up and sometimes even trapped in our fear. We want to go beyond it and yet somehow it controls us. We fear what we do not know and do not understand. We fear that what we are afraid of will control us, while we long to control our own lives. To Abraham & Sarah, God said, “Do not be afraid.” To Moses, “Do not be afraid.” To David, deep within the prayers of his heart, God said, “Do not be afraid.” Today, I go deeper into my spirit about where my fear is coming from, and trust God with it.”

Meditation for the Day

Hazelden Foundation

“We know God by spiritual vision. We feel that He is beside us. We feel His presence. Contact with God is not made by the senses. Spirit consciousness replaces sight. Since we cannot see God, we must perceive Him by spiritual perception. God spans the physical and the spiritual with the gift to us of spiritual vision. Many persons, though they cannot see God, have had a clear spiritual consciousness of Him. We are inside a box of space and time, but we know there must be something outside of that box, limitless space, eternity of time, and God. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may have a consciousness of God's presence. I pray that God will give me spiritual vision, beyond the concept of space and time.”

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

When doing my first inventory of my thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, you told me “fear was an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of my existence was shot through with it.” Being in the clothing business, I loved fabrics: linen, cotton, silk & wool. You mean that the fabric I was clothed in was a prison of FEAR? (False Evidence Appearing Real; Fuck Everything And Run). Maybe my fears were one of the major reasons I drank and drugged?

When I started to write them all down, it seemed you were right! I had a whole backpack full of them, and they had penetrated my soul. I was afraid of everything: I never had enough strength to overcome them. Then you told me I needed to believe in a Power greater than myself.

We went to meet our friends at Culinary Dropout at the Waterfront. Surrounded by all the pretty Scottsdale crowd, laughing, drinking, flirting, we all were seated and they started talking about all of the problems in the world: the Middle East, the assassination attempt, countless conspiracy theories & corruption schemes, the craziness of the Far Right & Far Left. WTF? Have I just been in the dark, hiking in the White Mountains, playing golf, enjoying meetings, the miracles of sobriety working with others and the Grace of God?

NO. I changed my focus. You’ve given me an alternative to all the noise, despair and fear in the world. YES, deep inside, SOMETHING IS greater than fear. It’s a faith in Something much greater. God, give me a double-shot of Faith.