“how many times I tried to be in charge with the false belief I could manage better than everyone else.”

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

God Grant Me: More Daily Meditations

“Our egos grew so large during our active addiction. They were equal to our fear. Recovery asks that we place both ego and fear aside. We are to replace them with relationships and being of service to others. Why? For one thing, it keeps us sober. It also pushes us to learn from others. As we learn from others, we get closer to the truth, the home of our Higher Power. Truth lowers fear and demands that we put aside ego. These are aids to living. We must remember, truth before fear, relationships before ego.”

A Blessing for Connected Belonging

Richard Rohr

“Today we find ourselves at the tipping point. Are we ready to embrace an entirely different vision of collective belonging & dynamic exchange? In both science and the social sciences, ideas once so radical for a flowing oneness are gradually gaining force in our lives. To get across the hump and shift to this new paradigm, a whole new way of thinking happens! We see the shift to a whole new cosmos, a whole new level of consciousness. A lifetime of living on self-reliance falls away as we seek to renew a deeper relationship and more confidence in God.”

Adapted from Richard Rohr Daily Meditations

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Meditation for the Day If you are honestly trying to live the way you believe God wants you to live, you can get guidance from God in times of quiet communion with Him, provided your thoughts are directed towards God's will and all good things. The attitude of "Thy will, not mine, be done" leads to clear guidance. Act on this guidance and you will be led to better things. Your impulses seem to become less your own and more the leading of God's spirit acting through your thoughts. Obeyed, they will bring you the answers to your prayers. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may try to think God's thoughts after Him. I pray that my thoughts may be guided by His thoughts.

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

Doing today's readings, I remembered back hearing “my ego is not my amigo!” Everyone laughed, but driving home, I thought to myself how many times I tried to be in charge with the false belief I could manage better than everyone else. I really believed it!

Yesterday, filled with calls and meetings with friends and cousins, the feeling and proof that I’m just one cog in the wheel rang true. Trying to live and work in tandem with others, family and friends, is a wonderful journey, fully alive with new energy.

Then, I got a call from a buddy to go over a list of his false beliefs, and new affirmations to open new doors to freedom.

Later, on the Men’s NY Gratitude call, Paulie talked about the wonderful energy in the group, the freedom of letting go, the promise of new life around every corner of life. It's darkest before the dawn is an ongoing process.

This morning, on a call with my cousin and then with my son Josh, it was wonderful! Seeing the grandkids on whatsApp, running around their rental house in Brasov, Romania, they talked about their adventures. I looked at Gail and felt so blessed.

The line from the story, The Man Who Mastered Fear, “Nothing had changed and yet everything had changed" was so true!

Thanks for a ticket to a new beginning each day, and to never lose my faith in You.............