I’ve read often in recovery literature that surrender is essential to healing from our addictions. But it always frightened me. Surrender felt like giving up—it felt like admitting I can’t do it on my own. Guess what? I can’t do it on my own. Even just typing that...
Brothers and sisters in recovery, how are you faring in our current state of affairs? For a month now we have been restricted from many of our usual daily activities. This means we haven’t been able to attend in-person recovery meetings, Mass, or the Sacrament of...
After I first became sober I thought that I’m better now. I can handle it. I had been in AA for years and attended hundreds, maybe thousands, of meetings. I had volunteered, read the Big Book, and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and worked through the Twelve...
During this time of uncertainty and fear, one thing I am certain of is that God is with us and will never leave or forsake us. As never before, we are being called in faith to pick up our cross and walk this lonesome valley. The good news is that we are never alone...
When I first came to a recovery program I was brought to it by a very caring woman who saw the pain I was going through. She stressed the need for having a sponsor and suggested that I listen and find someone with a length of sobriety whom I respected. There was an...
During this wonderful season of Lent, many of us turn our attention to the discipline of fasting. Similar to making New Year’s resolutions, many of us decide to give something up for Lent. As a child, I remember wondering why we were called to refrain from meat,...
Being a Lyft driver, I’m afforded a lot of unique interactions with people. As I was telling someone recently, the job is sort of like being an “ad hoc social worker on wheels.” You just never know who is going to come into your car or what their reason for needing a...
As we enter into Lent, I thought it would be beneficial to list the “Seven Deadly Sins” and the grave effects they have on one’s soul. Opposite each sin, I have listed a virtue that has been given to us as a gift by the Holy Spirit. These virtues help us to live a...
In a recent discussion on how to develop virtuous habits to combat negative ones connected with sexual sin, I was introduced to the four cardinal virtues, which are prudence, courage, temperance, and justice. Each of these virtues can help us live moral lives....
When I first walked through the doors of a 12-step meeting over 13 years ago I was hopeless, helpless, and desperate for a change. It was by far the hardest and best thing I ever did and I immediately felt accepted in a room full of complete strangers. 30 days earlier...