“We can’t stop the waves, but we can learn how to surf!”

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

The Daily Reader for Contemplative Living

Thomas Keating

“The spiritual journey is a process and we’re each at different levels of the process. That’s why the question “Who is God?” is different for each of us.\n\nI think we need to be bounced around a bit by life before we can really get into this thing at a deep level.”

Adapted from The Daily Reader for Contemplative Living

A Deep Breath of Life

Alan Cohen

“A Course in Miracles suggests that each day be devoted to miracles. Today, help me keep my mind, heart, and eyes open for events that override the fearful mind and demonstrate that we are loved. The more we look, the more we find.\n\nAnd help me to recognize You with a childlike heart in all that occurs this day.”

Adapted from A Deep Breath of Life

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Meditation for the Day “Learning to know God as best you can draws the Eternal Life nearer to you. Freed from some of the limitations of humanity, you can grow in the things that are eternal. You can strive for what is real and of eternal value. The more you try to live in the consciousness of the unseen world, the gentler will be your passing into it when the time comes for you to go. This life on earth should be largely a preparation for the eternal life to come. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may live each day as though it were my last. I pray that I may live my life as though it were everlasting.”

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

A buddy of mine said yesterday, “Steve, thanks for your daily readings, mantra and songs. They inspire me. We can’t stop the waves, but we can learn how to surf! This helps me.” Thank you Jimmy T. Much appreciate the love! The 12 Steps asks us to go back through our past to uncover causes and conditions. On my journey, my 2nd sponsor Bill Newhall told me, “Little Tottie, Know you’re loved; be good to you; just be you.” All three had me very confused!

First, I didn’t feel that I was loved. Even with 5 years sober, I was often trapped in full shame mode. I told him and he said, “just write down all of the reasons you don’t think you’re loved.” That exercise opened the Door to sweep out the negative and to open to God’s Love. Still, today, there’s some seaweed and garbage that wash up on shore; each day, I use that clean up exercise.

I can implement focusing on God’s love and the Miracles instead of the negative. When the critical mind starts, I can step aside and open to God's love.

My buddy JB in Cincinnati calls it “the little man.” Go bother someone else!

Last night at dinner with Gail and my former college roommate & his wife, we laughed like kids about our craziness in the past and our still wacky attitudes. When I showed his wife a photo of the old house we shared with assorted others, she rolled her eyes. If God doesn’t love us, how the hell did we survive? How did we manage to get the good life we have today?

Something was and must still be working in the world that’s bigger than us.

Today, I may be too old to surf, but I did learn to standup paddleboard.

Thank you for continuing to show me how to Ride the Waves; for a real life, not a fantasy.