“How had I been carried all these years, now face to face with someone from long ago?”

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

Let Me Explain

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

“Man on earth is no more than an element destined to complete himself cosmically in a higher consciousness in process of formation.”

Adapted from Let Me Explain

A Deep Breath of Life

Alan Cohen

“We never really know what the effects of our service will be. Sometimes it appears that nothing is happening; yet, behind the scenes, important changes are occurring; progress is being made. Imagine that any good we do is being received by the right people, at the right level for the right purpose. Today, help me act with confidence knowing that Your Spirit is working through me for the benefit of all.”

Adapted from A Deep Breath of Life

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Meditation for the Day “God is always ready to pour His blessings into our hearts in generous measure. But like the seed sowing, the ground must be prepared before seed is dropped in. It’s our task to prepare the soil; it’s God's to drop the seed. Preparation of the soil means many days of right living, choosing the right & avoiding the wrong. As I proceed, each day I’ll be better prepared for God's planting; then, to celebrate & share the harvest with God - the harvest of a useful and more abundant life. Prayer for the Day I pray that my way of living may be properly prepared day by day. I pray that I may strive to make myself ready for the harvest which God has planted in my heart.”

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

Looking back after the readings today, I remember asking myself why I was struggling so hard to let go, to believe a good life lies ahead. In my former life, I felt such a sense of power, importance & had some success. Then, in Bill's Story on p. 7, Bill W. declared, “The curve of my declining moral and bodily health fell off like a ski-jump.”

At 5 years in the program, I remember sharing this with my sponsor Bill Newhall, and he just laughed. “Little tottie, you really thought you had it going on, didn’t you? See how deceived you were? Maybe you just don’t see the New Reality, the New opportunity and power that’s been given to you.” Huh, he was right, I didn’t. At Coco’s, Charles Chirch told me he didn’t think I’d done the 3rd Step! I screamed, “ What are you talking about? I’ve done that prayer 100’s of times.” He simply said, “Steve, you haven’t done it because you don’t believe your life is in the CARE of God.” Huh, he was right too! There’s more to being sober than just going to meetings. But meetings are important, proven once again at Lunch Bunch when a guy named Tim recognized me & said he knew me from the late 80’s when Bill also was his sponsor! Coincidence??

Tim’s wife picked up a medallion, and we shared some of our stories about the challenges we’d been through. How had I been carried all these years, now face to face with someone from long ago? We left with a new level of gratitude, and Faith that Something is behind all of this! Another unexpected gift!

At the cabin, another couple came over for dinner, and they shared about living on Scottsdale Rd. & Lincoln, going to the Friday Night Speaker Mtg where everyone was dressed up. I remember that Friday Night Mtg., so lost, with no particular place to go. So I went, and yes, everyone was dressed up. The nickname for that mtg. was "quit your drinkin' and drive a Lincoln!"

At The Picnic Basket for breakfast with our neighbors, we met another couple who own classic cars. The 1940 Chevrolet Super Deluxe Convertible parked outside had us talking about my dad’s history at Chevrolet and the story of Camaro; how does all of this come together? I couldn’t have planned it! Maybe Something has?

Thank you; today, I can get dressed up and really have someplace to go!