“Steve, we’ve been given a 2nd chance, a new life.”

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

WILLINGNESS TO GROW

Joy is not just the absence of pain; it is the gift of a continued spiritual awakening, from ongoing and active study. Joy comes from application of the spiritual principles in my everyday life, and from sharing experiences with others. My Higher Power presents many opportunities for deeper spiritual awakening. I need only to bring into my recovery the willingness to grow. Today I am ready to grow.

Adapted from Daily Reflections

The Cross of Self-Sufficiency

Richard Rohr

In recovery there is a line in How It Works that states “We were reborn.” It is the death of the false self; the self that pretends you never need any help. It’s the part of us that wants to see itself as separate from God and others; one that always is creating a list of demands; a self that cannot see much beyond itself. The spiritual solution simply gives us an alternative to self: that if you want to save your life you must lose it, and that, if you lose your life, you will find it!

Adapted from Richard Rohr Daily Meditations

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Meditation for the Day Down through the centuries, thousands have believed in God's constancy, untiring and unfailing love. God has love. Then forever you are sure of His love. God has power. Then forever you are sure, in every difficulty and temptation, of His strength. God has patience. Then always there is One who can never tire. God has understanding. Then always you will understand and be understood. Unless you want Him to go, God will never leave you. He is always ready with power. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may feel that God's love will never fail. I pray that I may have confidence in His unfailing power.

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

I remember early on in How it Works hearing the line “we were reborn.” Reborn? What is this, a baptism class? I certainly didn’t feel reborn; I felt punished, frightened, sentenced to a drag of a life without drugs and alcohol. The party was over; now, while everyone else was having fun, I had to sit in these stupid meetings. I called my sponsor to tell him, and he stopped me halfway through my rant. “Steve, how much fun, how much of a party was it your last 6 months out there?” Well, he had a good point; there’s no fooling myself about it. It was horrible. The good times were over. Then, he said something that still sticks with me 43 years later. “Steve, we’ve been given a 2nd chance, a new life. It’s a reset, a rebirth of the Spirit. Ask someone to push the reset button when you’re fantasizing about the old days!”

Waking up at Gail’s house after a 10-hour flight back from London, I got to show Aaron the photos and videos from the past week with the Josh, Kehau and the grandkids. It certainly was proof you opened the doors to a much better life. The craziness of Vegas, the barflys and outside issues that accompanied my old life was fun & games for a while. But after the smoke cleared, all that was left was a twisted wreck and shell of a man. That’s when I met you.

Thanks for breathing new life into me and sharing your tales to keep me from slipping into dark fantasies of the ego; for showing me the value of surrender to win in the name of love!