A Walk With the Novena of Mary Undoer of Knots, Day 9

Today is Day 9 and thus the final one in our Novena of Mary Undoer of Knots. We ask Mary’s intercession for “this knot in my life…You know very well the suffering it has caused me…” So, what knot is it? Is it the same one you may have prayed about daily, or one of …

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Giving Glory to God

During my meditations this morning I decided to wander about outside and ponder things. One of the things I mused upon was my whole life in general. Basically, where I’m at versus where I’d rather be, and why there’s a chasm in between. Simple stuff. Part of this is because today is the Feast of …

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Eleven years sober, today

Today I celebrate 11 years of sobriety. It is also the Feast day of St. Rita of Cascia, known as the patron saint of lost causes. Based upon my early struggles with trying to figure out AA and to stop drinking, she is a fitting patron for me. Her, as well as Matt Talbot, who …

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Judging your Path along the Road of Happy Destiny

“Trudging the Road of Happy Destiny” is a phrase from AA’s “Big Book” and is referenced a lot in meetings. It basically means your program of recovery. Today’s Second Reading from the Mass for Pentecost Sunday offers a quick guide as to how you’re doing. Read the following excerpt and judge yourself as to how …

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Stayin’ Alive

Well, 10 years ago today was my first full day of not drinking. I wouldn’t say sober as “not drinking” and “sober” aren’t the same. Earlier this year, in February, I had posted about what would have been my original sobriety date: An Almost Anniversary: February 3, 2002, Part 1 and An Almost Anniversary: February …

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On the Eve of my Sobriety Anniversary: 10th Year

May 22nd 2012 is the 10th anniversary of my sobriety. Earlier this year, in February, I had posted about what would have been my original sobriety date: An Almost Anniversary: February 3, 2002, Part 1 and An Almost Anniversary: February 3, 2002, Part 2 In those posts I had mentioned that when the real sobriety …

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Just one more

Today’s meditation in “Walk in Dry Places” by Hazelden mentions the diminishing returns of having “just one more drink.” As if having “one more” could bring the comfort and solace that is missing, it merely hastens our descent into deeper addiction. It is a false promise, an illusory note that we can be satisfied by …

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Garry, Part 2: Alcoholics who still suffer

I just finished writing about Garry and I mentioned in there about how sobriety and serenity seemed elusive for him. This does not make him any less valuable of an individual than any other. Yes, he was arrested for DWI, one of the most irresponsible of all crimes. It does not have to happen. You …

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Garry

Yesterday a face stared right back out at me from the pages of a newspaper. It was Garry. He had been arrested for DWI after being pulled over when a cop noticed that he didn’t have a seatbelt on. (I forget how many times for DWI this makes for Garry, but it has been quite …

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St. Francis Mission Among the Lakota Part 3: Relapse and Recovery

This is the third and final part in the series of interviews with leaders of the St. Francis Mission, for background, see An Introduction to the St. Francis Mission Among the Lakota Q: The following link provides basic information on the recovery programs offered at the Reservation: Recovery programs at the St. Francis Mission. They …

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