Recovery. Sobriety. Living Wise.
“We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are in the present but as they may become.” Thomas Monson Such are the eyes of Sponsors and Real Friends. I heard a story of an old man who made it his life’s work to act as the “honorary sponsor” of the Niagara River near the falls. He walked the shores of the river, on guard … Continue reading Throwing a Life Preserver
When was the last time you experienced a gulf between men and women? I recently experienced a vivid reminder. I had just parked my car at Target and was walking toward the entrance when I came upon a Muslim woman with three kids in tow struggling to get a large box into the trunk of her car. She was having no luck as her children were crying … Continue reading When History BECOMES the Probem
“The greatness of a man’s power is in the measure of his surrender.” ~ William Booth Have you given any thought to your own “cultural DNA?” To the landscapes, the religious and political systems, and the other forces that shaped your ancestors – and that helped to shape you? Forty years ago I had a conversation with my great aunt Nora Moriarty, an ancient member of … Continue reading Soul Surrender
“The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.” – Aristotle Words tend to lose their meaning over time. When Donald Trump describes himself as “hugely successful,” I walk away shaking my head muttering, “not by my definition.” So I’ve been reminded that the word virtue has been redefined for me in sobriety. There was a sobriety meeting at the Washington State Prison at … Continue reading The Virtuous Life (plus 300)
For Mothers, wherever we find them. “Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it. If change is the essence of existence one would have thought it only sensible to make it the premise of our philosophy. We can none of us … Continue reading Mother India Claims A Son