Without meditation and daily review, I can return to the unconscious state where ego rebuilds, and it can take me out of the path I have chosen to follow. There is a Zen saying: “Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.” It tells me that no matter what, I must practice daily.
What does the Big Book mean when it tells us He will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves? Be assured that God is not here primarily to take care of us and our desires. He is here to give us the tools and the power to do His work, not ours. The will of God is infinitely more satisfying than anything we could plan for ourselves. If you are not so sure about this, stick around until you are. You will be amazed before you are halfway through.
The first time I smudged, I felt a connection to something I can’t fully understand. When I was surrounded by the smoke from the burning medicines, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. It felt like going home to a place I’d never been before. I can’t explain it − I just felt better.
“Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which day events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.” -Wikipedia In our journey in recovery, we … Continued
Although I have only begun to find interest in the religion I was brought up in, I was always brought up Muslim. It’s an identity there that transcends faith and permeates every aspect of my life, for better or for worse. For me, there was a shame associated with drinking in the first place, because Muslims aren’t supposed to drink, followed by the hopelessness of finding out that I couldn’t stop.
Prayer and meditation, service work, and rigorous honesty are important in building a vital spiritual life. But there are other practices that we don’t often think of as spiritual, that are also key in healing addiction. Attitudes, beliefs and practices that strengthen our life force, also strengthen our spirit and energize our commitment to getting well.
I truly believe that all of us, no matter who we are, are on a spiritual journey. It’s probably the ultimate journey of life. And if we just open ourselves up and realize the beauty of that journey we’ll see how each and every one of us is one of God’s creatures; one of God’s creations.
The more I began practicing new behaviours and letting go of my need to control outcomes, the more I would get these small zaps of awakening delivered in the forms of less worrying, more compassion and more self-esteem. I began to feel a deeper connection to a power in my life, sort of like the wind, I could feel it but I couldn’t see it.
One of the most vital prerequisites of healing and recovery, of being open to growth, is a willingness to be open to looking at anything, and everything, from a different perspective. As long as we are stuck in a rigid perspective on any issue, we are like the blind man who thinks the elephant is a snake because all he can feel is the trunk.
Something comes along that knocks off a piece of our armour. And only in that moment of the armour being knocked off do we get to look inside and see that we are gold. And the moment that you see that gold, the armour will never satisfy you again. All you will want to do is pick away at that armour, because the gold is so much more fun.
