In this series of posts, I wanted to share how three of my relationships have gone through a transformation. In each relationship, I had to ask God to help me see that relationship as it was in reality rather than the way that that relationship had been unconsciously disfigured by fear. Last week, we explored […]
The topic of my last twelve-step meeting was ‘Higher Power.’ Our chairperson began with a reading on the topic and then asked each of us to either read another reading on the subject or to share our experience about the god of our understanding. One fellow began to tell us that he didn’t have a […]
There is a patch of light that comes through my window, late in the afternoon. On cooler days, the dogs find their way upstairs to bask in that light. Sometimes, I join them. I like to imagine that the warmth that soaks into my skin is a loving embrace from God. I imagine Him with […]
Last week at a meeting, a woman came in and asked if we’d seen the rainbow on our way in. “Yes, I did.” I said. “It was so beautiful that all I could do was sigh.” She said. “But, I think that God is only a sigh away.” She continued. “I’ve got to write […]
I was driving down a long stretch of highway, somewhere between Arkansas and Texas, when I saw the words, ‘Real Christians Obey God’s Teachings’ fill an entire billboard. My first feeling was anger. Why would someone want to put that on a billboard? It reminded me of my grandmother telling me that ‘God won’t like […]
If you ever wanted to make me cry, forget about being mean. That won’t work. My hillbilly ire may be raised a bit, but I will not cry. But, if you are kind, it gets me, every time. It touches the soft part of my heart that spills over like an April shower that […]
Last Friday, I was a bundle of nerves. No one thing had happened. But, I had nagging fears that something would. You see, I was concerned because my plans were not coming along as I thought they should. Over the course of the day, those anxieties seemed to grow to the point that they were […]
It was hard to walk through the door of my first twelve-step meeting. It was even harder to whisper to God asking Him to show me what the problem was. Somehow, it felt like if I didn’t ask the question, it wouldn’t be true. And, while I remember my own fear, I forget that others […]
This is one of my heroes. His name is Greg Boyle, SJ. He is a priest from Los Angles, CA who started and now runs the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. I am such a fan that I’ve toured his ‘Homeboy Industries’ and eaten at ‘Homegirl Cafe in Los Angeles. And, […]