“the Light Within gets brighter and brighter with each Step and meeting with you!”

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

A Deep Breath of Life

Alan Cohen

“Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed. Who and what I am is God's gift to the world. What is my gift to God? The seeds of greatness are already planted within. Everything has been given to us. What could I be doing differently? The question is not, "How much do I have?" It is, "How much can I give to live the fullest life during my time on Earth?"

Adapted from A Deep Breath of Life

Returning Home

Richard Rohr

“Theistic faiths insist that ultimately God is our home. God dwells with us, and we in God. In Judaism, one definition God is Shekhinah (Hebrew: שכינה) meaning the "dwelling" or "settling" within. The ancient Hebrew prophet Isaiah spoke of a Divine Presence is used to describe “God with us.” No matter what religious term used, dwelling in the Spirit represents a safe & sacred space.”

Adapted from Richard Rohr Daily Meditations

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Meditation for the Day “If your heart is right, your world will be right. The beginning of all reform must be in yourself. It's not what happens to you, it's how you take it. However restricted your circumstances, however little you may be able to remedy financial affairs, you can always turn to your inward self and seeing something not in order there, seek to right it. And as all reform is from within outward, you will always find that the outward is improved as the inward is improved. As you improve yourself, your outward circumstances will change for the better. The power released from within yourself will change your outward life. Prayer for the Day I pray that the hidden power within me may be released. I pray that I may not imprison the spirit that is within me.”

Adapted from Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

“Early on, you told me that recovery is an inside job; that my drinking and using were symptoms of a deeper problem. After 90 days, I knew you were on to something! My insides were full of doubts, fears and anxiety. How well the combination of a drink and chemical seemed to instantly transport me into another space. I called my sponsor, and we went over Bill W, Dr. Bob & Dr. Alcoholic Addict stories. They were just like me; the relief from alcohol and chemicals worked for them until they were locked in rehab or strapped down to a hospital bed! What’s up with that?

My sponsor then asked, “Do you think there’s a Power greater than drugs & alcohol?” I knew deep inside there must be; but what and how to connect?

Over the years, my sobriety has been more of an attempt to discover what doesn’t work and let it go, and to continue to embrace the Inner Spark & Eternal Light my Rabbis’ talked about when I was young.

Yesterday, my phone calls were filled with friends discussing solutions to life’s issues. Friends & family also need solutions; we all talked about the Inner Spark of Life given to us at birth. To detach from the “issue du’jour “ and connect to The Gift to overcome doubts and negativity.

At the 5:30 Big Book Mtg at Veterans Village, newcomers from rehab were wrestling with Step One. I flashed back to my early days wondering what and how to connect with the solution. When it was my turn to share, I mentioned Step One is better than Step Zero; that the A,B,C’s in How It Works build a launching pad for new life!

Years later, the song from Ten Years After, "I’m Going Home" has new meaning; instead of to my next love affair or thrill, to keep uncovering the Light Within that gets brighter and brighter with each step and meeting with you!”