Today is a key day.

Today is a key day.

Twelve Steps and God have changed many a soul for the better. By recognizing where the pain, and key issues are in life we come to understand ourselves and realize how and what changes us to be better. It never happens over night and in some cases takes us even years to truly and fully understand ourselves. The steps of change may seem to be written so simply but yet they can well be some of the most complexed things any soul may ever face.

 Climbing a rock face may seem easier than changing our thinking enough to make a better life for ourselves.  Never take for granted some of the best climbs are better with a secure anchor and not going at it free solo. Having a belayer with you in life is worth everything when you find yourself in a tight spot or two. With God as a belayer failing is not an option but soloing is certain failure, even death. Never underestimate how far you can go with heavens help. Don’t get me wrong the steps of recovery is possible for anyone that willing to pay the price to find sobriety and serenity.

Today is a key day for my personal recovery and it marks another year to chalk up as clean and sober. There have been many a peak, rock face, and canyon that have challenged me over the years but the twelve steps have been the hardest challenges of all. This past week I had another opportunity to speak to a Fireside (group of people gathered to hear a speaker) gathering and pass along to them the need to always climb in life with a belayer and a secure anchor. Life is also worth living is another pass along too, as I have a time or two been to some dark places of the soul. It may get hard and crazy at times but ending the story before its time is not a great way to finish a story. 

God is a master of life and in spite of some flaws we all may have does and always will love us. If you’re some of those that have fought the fight of recovery and are doing it, inspire others. Pass along to them there is hope and it is possible to overcome addictive vices and behaviors. Be so focused on Gods will that others will find him. God loves you and me! "One day at a time" and yes, "we can and do recover."

What a question!

Some sobering thoughts this morning as I read an article about kid (26 is a kid to me) that left this life from the chains of addictive destruction. It always hits home for me considering the path of addictive chains that held me once. Not too long ago I had the opportunity to speak to a group of teens at a fireside (Church meeting) about life and the choices that we have. I have had many of these opportunities over the years but this time a during a question asking moment a great question was asked. “What is it that keeps you from going back to those destructive things in your life?” How would anyone else answer this question? Because it brings up a hundred more why questions.  

So here it goes. *I didn’t like me. I didn’t like who I was and why I was and I don’t want to live that way anymore. *I didn’t feel free. I didn’t feel free to make good choices and to be able to think freely about those choices. *I though God hated me. I have come to know and feel good about the relationship I have with my Higher Power/God and I now know that he loves me. *I love my life. I love my life and know many persons in the world that also love me. *I did see a purpose in life. I did feel that me being around changed anything for any one. Now I know that even if I change the world for only one person it has meaning and that meaning changes things for me also.

I fully enjoy the opportunity to talk to people that may be in doubt, questioning their purpose in life and hurting in their life. “I’m not interested whether you’ve stood with the great. I’m interested whether you’ve sat with the broken.” Many of the great persons we know in history like Gandhi, Mandela, Christ, and others showed their greatness the most when they sat with the down trodden, the lowly of heart, and those who could in no way repay them. If we lift others where we can the world changes for good. Lift others and spread goodness to the world.

If your one of those chained by things in your life or you know personally someone who is take hope. There is a way to change if there is desire, faith, and a wiliness to do so. Feel free to message me if your one of those people out there. If by chance you’re a person who has broken free from them great. I commend your doing so and if you are willing to share with me your story I would love to hear it. Sharing the victory of breaking those chains with others not to brag by any means but to show others that there is hope and good things can and do happen in the world. God loves us and knows us personally. We need to always remember God is in control, even when we can't see his plan and we should be still and know it will work out. God bless!

Deep spiritual enlightenment.

I'm reminded of a truth that I faced some years ago. We each must find our faith over fear. Find ourselves in deep spiritual enlightenment. Some may come to that point by small and simple fashion but many of us traveled through some deep canyons of hell and rock bottom to fully understand. Stumbling and falling is not fun but the lessons learned are very much priceless indeed. Finding the solid foundation in a loving Savior and know him personally to know where we ultimately choose to be in our life. Rarely do we find other people that except us the way the Savior does. God is great and loves us! It took me a long time to learn this and I can honestly say that I have so much more to learn and understand of how the power of God can and does work in our lives. I admit that it is very difficult and fear filled to turn our lives and our will over to the trust and care of God. But that willingness can change us by helping us to change our flaws of character and makes us in to something more than we could do on our own. Have a blessed day. Many fight the Devil/Dragon in fights for their souls. Much of these battles are not seen but others yet are real just the same. I pray daily for those that battle with the dragon in their lives to win. Put on that armor and yield a sword. And Fight! Have a great day friends!

Breaking the Norm.

10-4-2015

Yeppers it’s “normal” or so they say. Every person I know out there in our world are all different. So with that being said how do you know if someone is normal? Is there a standardized test of normal? Or is that something that is almost normal? But really the big question is how do you test for normal? I have asked these questions about myself many times over the years and I have figured out I’m not normal because there isn’t a person that is normal. The only normal thing I know of is the settings on some appliances. And even the normal setting on some appliances is not really that normal. I might add that many of the things people say is normal today are indeed so far out that they are not normal. So that being said who then is the judge of normal and are they themselves normal? So with that much said how do you act normal? How do you respond to someone when they tell you to just be normal? As for me I will just be me and forget the normal thing. Being me is much easier to do and no one can say that you’re boring. Besides “I need to be me”. Ya might say I’m a square peg and forced to be in a round hole. So break the “NORM” and do the thing that makes ya happy.

Twelve and beyond!

Twelve- “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs” The Steps. After many years of working to understand my issues and character flaws, I now can help others to work past theirs. Every day we make changes in our lives some good and some of them not so good. Those changes lead us down the paths of life. Every day of sobriety is a mile stone. For some that day may be small but good, but for others it is as a climb to the top of a 28,000 foot mountain. Each minute, hour, and day that someone is clean and sober is a victorious day in the battle with the dragons we face. I have learned much about the ins and outs of how addictions work and what it takes to beat it at every turn. Addictions stem far deeper than Drugs, Food, Sex, Porn, Gaming, Etc. You have to find the deep rooted core issue and pain and turn it around first. Some would say that”oh it is just in your head”, or “just snap out of it, duh” and yes you are part right. The pain that drives it and the effects of THIQ are in the head. I also know that it is a relationship issue also. It is how a person feels about themselves, others, and their Higher Power. I have seen addiction described as a deep dark old well with where the bottom changes continually. Some people holding on to the rope and bucket for all they can but never hitting rock bottom. Floundering with the rope needing to let go and trust in a power beyond them to help them back from the darkness. Those that flounder day after day without change are those that very well will be those that remain active in their plight or pass with death as the dragon takes them. Often those that flounder are expecting an instant fix or someone else to rescue them from their plight. It isn’t until they find the bottom and learn their core issues that they can work to rebuild and recover. Finding the courage to be open and honest about issues is by far one of the hardest things we face in life but once we do we can move forward. Some of the most difficult workings of the heart is inventorying our lives and coming to know the core issues of why we are what we are and how to change our path. Yes I would say that there are a great many times that this process can loyally suck to say the least but it can be done. When we do find recovery we must remind ourselves “just for today”....I will make every day count, even if I have to take it “One day at a time.” Finding that relationship with our God and realizing that in spite of the flaws we have and the mistakes we make we have his love to hold us. When have found peace with our lives. We can then help others to look inside of themselves and to the love of god to change their hearts and lives. It is by helping others that we then come to know that we are not alone in our lives and struggles. I will not say that I do not at times doubt in my thinking and live and that I still do not have fear at some point. There are still many things that bring me discomfort and things I don’t do to make that discomfort less but I try daily to fight my insecurities. God is great!

Stepping back from the ledge.

Stepping back from the ledge!

Are we ever so far gone that we can’t step back from the ledge? Very simply put no. We are only as far gone as we think we are. It maybe for some when they see the darkness coming. Yet for others it maybe that point of stone cold reality when they have it the lowest of lows of rock bottom. For me it was that reality check no one ever fully looks for when someone is gone and you see it could be you next. Thus we see the statement of jail, institutions, and death. So what is it that pulls us back? Is it fear? A Higher Power? A good friend? Whatever that individual answer is go with it. Hold on to whatever it takes to stay safe from the ledge. We may not get the perfect turn around experience like one of my hero’s Alma the Jr (BofM, Alma 36) but our stories are great none the less.

So how do we stay back from the edge once we find our way back? We find the connections in our life with our Higher Power/God and others that give us hope. Whether we find it by attending Religious services, Recovery meetings, or working with others on the big twelve (12 steps to recovery). We may have to make that connection hourly at times in our life to understand our key core issues and make peace with them. Whatever we do we must be fearless in our efforts to make it back and stay there. It has taken me years to come to this and I now know God and the love he has for us. He wants us to find good and though that can be a fight we can make it. Once we are back stay as far from the Dragon as we can.

Finding ourselves.

“Sometimes we find ourselves, when we lose ourselves.” Edmond Hillary

For many years I questioned the things in life that most would say is crazy. Why was I not good enough? Why does God hate me? Why can’t others see me for who I am?

Many years are found in peoples life walking lost in dark and scary places. I walked lost with these questions drowning me day in and day out. I adventured in my younger days and the only places of real peace for me was in the quiet of the outback. Working through many issues with the help of a friend and the 12 big steps of recovery did I start to find some good answers to these questions. Although it has taken me many years to find the answers and peace for the troubles of the soul. It wasn’t until I started to help others with the big 12 that I came to understand my key questions and core issues.

                                          

I came to realize my Higher Power/God loves me in spite of my character flaws and short comings. No matter what others think of me I know God knows my heart and I am more than good enough for him.