How Eucharistic Adoration Healed My Father Wound
A few years ago, I was at a wedding when I was struck by the particular charism of the priest offering the ceremony. He was warm, relaxed, and extremely welcoming. He also could read a room, which was reflected in the way he presented his homily to a largely irreligious crowd. He even told us…
Read MoreHow My Family’s “Disease” of Addiction Became My Family’s Path to Sanctity
I was outraged when someone suggested that I suffered from a “family disease” when my child began using drugs. During the ebb and flow of our family’s now eight-year struggle with addiction, I have pondered the idea of addiction as a family disease. How could someone else’s behavior make ME diseased?! At the same time,…
Read MoreWhat a Mentor and a Beautiful Girl Taught Me about Risking Rejection
About two years ago, a mentor of mine invited me up to go sailing on Lake Erie to a somewhat famous tourist attraction called Put-In-Bay. It was October Fest weekend, which gave people all the more reason to drink excessively and act nutty. Of the group of guys I was with, I was by far…
Read MoreA Step Four and Step Five Reflection: Shedding Light on the Darkest Places in Our Soul
Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Step Five: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. I was warned by my sponsor that many people find Step Four and Step Five very difficult—some even deem them impossible—and many quit or give up…
Read MoreHow Scripture and Prayer Helped Me Overcome My Sexual Addictions
One of the keys to moving away from habitual sin is spending time daily with Scripture and in prayer. Most of us have heard this for years and our immediate response might be, “I don’t have time.” I felt this way 10 years ago. But I can tell you today, as I enjoy over three…
Read MoreThis Is True! The Need for Affirmation from the Community
On my path of recovery, one of the absolute best experiences I have had was my time spent in inpatient rehab. I spent 35 days in a facility in order to receive help for my addiction to pornography. However, to my surprise, I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and I spent much of…
Read MoreA Step Three Reflection: Giving God Unfettered Access to Our Lives
Step Three: Made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to God. My 12-step experience has been in overeaters anonymous (OA). But it was in an area beyond food where the depth of my third step came into sharper focus for me: personal finance. I was on a walk one day and…
Read MoreA Simple Breathing Exercise for Becoming More Like Mary with Our Eyes Fixed on God
One of the tools that I learned as I went through the Consoling the Heart of Jesus: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat spiritual practice to help navigate challenging situations was a beautiful breathing exercise. Even today, over three years clean of pornography, when feelings of frustration, anger, loneliness, and boredom turn my thoughts to fantasy and masturbation tempts…
Read MoreWhat My Recovery Has Taught Me About Dealing With Loss and Grief
Why is the subject of death so hard to talk about? Is it because when a loved one dies each one of us responds and copes with this loss in a completely unique and personal way? And if I died today, would I be right with God, myself, and others? Would I be reunited with…
Read MoreHearing the Voice of God in the Voice of Others
When in the rooms of recovery, you often hear how people are depending on each other for support not only in staying sober, but for handling the difficult situations of life. The Twelve Steps are meant to guide us towards a God-reliance, which can be difficult to have without the help of others. Others Can…
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