This prayer/poem describes the many ways in which we attempt to avoid all sorts of physical and emotional pain. It also highlights how recognizing our pain and accepting it can increase self-knowledge and improve self-care. It further suggests how our response ability and relationship with pain has impacted our addiction, our recovery, and our livesContinue reading “The “Felt Sense” Prayer – Author Unknown”
Category Archives: Contributing
Mashup 7th Step Prayer & Offer God Your Imperfections August 23rd Reflection By Henri Nouven
7th Step Prayer (Big Book P.76) My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go outContinue reading “Mashup 7th Step Prayer & Offer God Your Imperfections August 23rd Reflection By Henri Nouven”
Being Is More Important Than Doing – August 6th Daily Reflection By Henri Nouwen
I suspect that we too often have lost contact with the source of our own existence and have become strangers in our own house. We tend to run around trying to solve the problems of our world while anxiously avoiding confrontation with that reality wherein our problems find their deepest roots: our own selves. InContinue reading “Being Is More Important Than Doing – August 6th Daily Reflection By Henri Nouwen”
It’s Worth The Work – Grapevine Article August 2024 By Doug M.
Through years of sober experience, good and bad, he learned about love, faith and sharing the fun Relationships are hard. I’m not sure if they are harder for alcoholics, but they certainly aren’t easier. My first day of sobriety was the day after a very messy Valentine’s night [see Doug’s February 2014 story, “My MessyContinue reading “It’s Worth The Work – Grapevine Article August 2024 By Doug M.”
Practicing Principles Of Hospitality & Welcoming – Touchstone Reflection July 18th
How should one live? Live welcoming to all.—Mechthild of Magdeburg Welcoming is a spiritual practice we met when we came to this program. We may recall our first meetings and how welcome we felt in this group of fellow sufferers. The group gave us hope when we felt desperate and continues to provide us withContinue reading “Practicing Principles Of Hospitality & Welcoming – Touchstone Reflection July 18th”
Taking Gratitude For Granted – Grapevine Article May 2000 By Clancy I.
For a period of about two years, my daily walks became progressively more difficult. A searing pain in my lower legs eventually became almost unbearable. I found that stopping every block or two and sitting down would make the pain temporarily subside. The best physical therapists diagnosed my problem as stenosis (a gradual closing ofContinue reading “Taking Gratitude For Granted – Grapevine Article May 2000 By Clancy I.”
Reclaimed By Something Deeper – Daily Meditation February 20th 2024 By Richard Rohr
Richard Rohr connects the spiritual journey to how we respond to our suffering. I believe that only people who have suffered in some way can save one another—exactly as Twelve Step programs have discovered. Deep communion and dear compassion are formed much more by shared pain than by shared pleasure. I do not know whyContinue reading “Reclaimed By Something Deeper – Daily Meditation February 20th 2024 By Richard Rohr”
Recovery Through Giving – As Bill Sees It #275
For a new prospect, outline the program of action, explaining how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out your past, and why you are now endeavoring to be helpful to him. It is important for him to realize that your attempt to pass this on to him plays a vital part in your ownContinue reading “Recovery Through Giving – As Bill Sees It #275”
I Didn’t Want to Want to … Grapevine Article June 1960 By Warden Clinton Duffy
San Quentin’s former warden tells how Prison Groups offer alcoholic inmates a means for recovery from the disease that is often directly responsible for criminal records ONE OF the hundreds of alcoholic inmates who appear before the California Adult Authority (Parole Board), for fixing of sentence and possible parole consideration, said to me: “I couldContinue reading “I Didn’t Want to Want to … Grapevine Article June 1960 By Warden Clinton Duffy”
Toward Partnership – As Bill Sees It #292
When the distortion of family life through alcohol has been great, a long period of patient striving may be necessary. After the husband joins A.A., the wife may become discontented, even highly resentful that A.A. has done the very thing that all her years of devotion had failed to do. Her husband may become soContinue reading “Toward Partnership – As Bill Sees It #292”