Recent Posts
How the Lord Miraculously Freed Me of Alcoholism on a Park Bench
Each week, I drive by a beautiful park on my way to a recovery meeting. During my drive, I always notice a particular bench and remind myself that that’s where “it” happened—the Lord’s miraculous healing of my alcoholism. I came into the rooms of Recovery in 2013. I...
Acceptance as the Answer to All Our Problems: Part 2
In part one of this series, I wrote about the recovery principle of acceptance and how through acceptance we can begin to live “life on life’s terms.” Yet, how can we practically live “life on life’s terms”? Philosophers divide knowledge into theoretical and practical...
Arming Ourselves for Spiritual Warfare: Critical Weapons to Combat Evil and Maintain Recovery
We are fallen but redeemed by Jesus. He wants to claim what’s His: our souls. However, the spiritual war between Christ and the devil for our souls never stops raging in this life. Therefore, similar to physical warfare, we must arm ourselves with weapons to defeat...
Beyond Forgiveness: The Boundless Mercy of God in the 12 Steps
If you are anything like me, I always start off Lent with a plan for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In Catholic circles, it becomes almost a required part of the small talk we make. “So, what are you doing for Lent?” It seems to demand an answer that demonstrates...
Tapping into the Many Gifts of the Holy Rosary
We may be tempted to stray off the path of recovery and wander into the swirling chaos and confusion of this world. Fear and uncertainty of the future can quickly and without warning pull us into a trap where we allow old thoughts and behaviors to enter. Our reliance...
The 11th Step and a Catholic Approach to Meditation and Mindfulness: Part One
Step 11 states, “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for the knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” (Alcoholics Anonymous). What immediately strikes me about the...
Seeking First the Kingdom of Heaven in Recovery
When we are caught in our active addictions or unhealthy attachments, we seek short-lived fulfillment, pleasure, and temporary reprieve from the realities and suffering of life. Yet, when we are reawakened to the Lord’s crucifix and begin working our recovery, we...
How Fasting Helps Us Maintain Recovery and Grow in Holiness
Lent is a good time to discuss a neglected weapon in our spiritual arsenal: fasting. I want to explain how fasting as a spiritual discipline helps us manage our passions and direct our wills, making it a valuable practice for maintaining recovery and growing in...
Allowing God to Heal Our Generational and Family Wounds
As time passes, our recovery brings with it new growth and awareness of God and ourselves. By living a life of honesty, openness, and willingness, God fills our hearts, minds, and spirits with new knowledge and wisdom, or “God thoughts.” For me, these thoughts have...
The Necessity of Seeking and Giving Forgiveness in Recovery
To ask for forgiveness is one of the greatest challenges we face. It demands peace in our hearts. It invites us to confront and overcome our emotions of anger and hurt to practice virtue and mercy. It is a risk. It is a risk for anyone—especially for those of us in...
How the Lord Miraculously Freed Me of Alcoholism on a Park Bench
Each week, I drive by a beautiful park on my way to a recovery meeting. During my drive, I always notice a particular bench and remind myself that that’s where “it” happened—the Lord’s miraculous healing of my alcoholism. I came into the rooms of Recovery in 2013. I...
Acceptance as the Answer to All Our Problems: Part 2
In part one of this series, I wrote about the recovery principle of acceptance and how through acceptance we can begin to live “life on life’s terms.” Yet, how can we practically live “life on life’s terms”? Philosophers divide knowledge into theoretical and practical...
Arming Ourselves for Spiritual Warfare: Critical Weapons to Combat Evil and Maintain Recovery
We are fallen but redeemed by Jesus. He wants to claim what’s His: our souls. However, the spiritual war between Christ and the devil for our souls never stops raging in this life. Therefore, similar to physical warfare, we must arm ourselves with weapons to defeat...
Beyond Forgiveness: The Boundless Mercy of God in the 12 Steps
If you are anything like me, I always start off Lent with a plan for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In Catholic circles, it becomes almost a required part of the small talk we make. “So, what are you doing for Lent?” It seems to demand an answer that demonstrates...
Tapping into the Many Gifts of the Holy Rosary
We may be tempted to stray off the path of recovery and wander into the swirling chaos and confusion of this world. Fear and uncertainty of the future can quickly and without warning pull us into a trap where we allow old thoughts and behaviors to enter. Our reliance...
The 11th Step and a Catholic Approach to Meditation and Mindfulness: Part One
Step 11 states, “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for the knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” (Alcoholics Anonymous). What immediately strikes me about the...
Seeking First the Kingdom of Heaven in Recovery
When we are caught in our active addictions or unhealthy attachments, we seek short-lived fulfillment, pleasure, and temporary reprieve from the realities and suffering of life. Yet, when we are reawakened to the Lord’s crucifix and begin working our recovery, we...
How Fasting Helps Us Maintain Recovery and Grow in Holiness
Lent is a good time to discuss a neglected weapon in our spiritual arsenal: fasting. I want to explain how fasting as a spiritual discipline helps us manage our passions and direct our wills, making it a valuable practice for maintaining recovery and growing in...
Allowing God to Heal Our Generational and Family Wounds
As time passes, our recovery brings with it new growth and awareness of God and ourselves. By living a life of honesty, openness, and willingness, God fills our hearts, minds, and spirits with new knowledge and wisdom, or “God thoughts.” For me, these thoughts have...
The Necessity of Seeking and Giving Forgiveness in Recovery
To ask for forgiveness is one of the greatest challenges we face. It demands peace in our hearts. It invites us to confront and overcome our emotions of anger and hurt to practice virtue and mercy. It is a risk. It is a risk for anyone—especially for those of us in...