Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all… (Jacob 2:17) These words remind me of one of the most healing effects of twelve-step recovery work. Only after entering the program did I begin to see “my brethren” (other people) like unto myself—not better or worse than me, but the same, and […]
Read More atonement, charity, humility, recoveryI stayed up pretty late, last night—well, this morning. Only then did I remember that this morning was a Tuesday mornin—my morning to serve as facilitator for the Heart t’ Heart online meeting at 6:30 a.m. (Mountain Time). I am so grateful that I had the chance (and the excuse) to be at that meeting. […]
Read More abstinence, challenges, delivery, faith, little bit, prodigal, recovery, trustMy abstinence has changed a lot over the years. What and how and when I eat now is nothing compared to what and how and when I ate 25 years ago. If I had met my current self then, I would have been so impressed with me. The kind of abstinence I have now would […]
Read More abstinence, experience, faith, hope, recovery, sanity, strengthFor years, the physical exercise experts insisted that a person needed to do at least 30 minutes of exercise to stay fit. 40 minutes was better. An hour was fantastic! I could never figure out how to carve out a 30-minute block of time from my busy schedule, much less 60! Then, one day there […]
Read More exercise, little bit, scripture studyRecently, a dearly beloved brother shared about how grateful he is to understand the respect God has for our willingness—even when that willingness doesn’t quickly materialize into perfect performance. His words made me think of Paul’s own struggles, as he expresses in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 and in Romans 7:15-25. It seems this “war” between the […]
Read More atonement, overcoming sin, perfectionism, repentanceWhen a person says they’re having a hard time connecting with God, I immediately know there is some truth in their life that they’re not ready to acknowledge. There is something they’re shying away from, something they don’t want to process or embrace. When we connect with God, He exposes the truth. He lights up […]
Read More recovery, truthI have a friend who lives just down the road from a large and lovely lake. When I visit her, I often take my morning walk to the lake and back. I like to pause above the lake, to feel the breeze as it skims across the water and blows through my hair, to smell […]
Read More choices, consequences, ebb & flowThis is a new and an everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning. (D&C 22:1) How can something be “new” and “everlasting” at the same time? Isn’t that a paradoxical, even irrational combination of words? I mean, if something is “everlasting,” eventually it won’t be new any longer. If I have an everlasting […]
Read More covenant, everlastingThe only thing I can do perfectly is admit that I don’t do anything perfect. It has taken years for me to realize that the most recovered thing I can do in all the world is be imperfect “out loud,” in front of others. I have to look the lie of shame right in the […]
Read More imperfection, perfectionism