I hope wherever you are, you know Recovery is with you right where you are.
Our oldest daughter is expecting a baby around August 3. My wife and I are looking forward to welcoming our fourth grandchild. We will be traveling to Arkansas tomorrow, July 31, 2026.
Please keep our family in your daily prayers. Because of our trip, I will be taking a two-week break from this daily blog. The next reflection will be shared on August 17, 2026. Thank you for your prayers, kindness, and support.
As we begin the first half of our Recovery journey, we build a strong foundation for our lives. We answer some important questions: What makes me significant? How can I care for myself mentally and emotionally? Who will walk beside me?
The second half of Recovery is different. It is about discovering what that strong foundation was meant to support. It is about finding the gifts we were created to share. As Mary Oliver wisely asked, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
In the same way, the foundation we build in Recovery is not the final destination. It prepares us for a deeper, fuller life. Once the repairs have been made, we are invited to cast our nets into deeper waters and receive the abundant life waiting for us.
During the first part of my Recovery journey, I believed that mentors and elders were naive, out of touch, or simply unnecessary. Looking back now, I realize I could not understand what I had never experienced. I was completely focused on one task—finding relief from my suffering. I could not yet see beyond that need.
To begin my healing, I needed boundaries, a healthy identity, safety, and a sense of order. Those became the framework for my Recovery. My “drawer” held many important tools: therapy, medication, spiritual direction, good nutrition, support groups, caring friends, loving family, and time for play and joy.
We all need to feel special. By that, I mean we all need moments of success, encouragement, and loving support. These experiences help us grow. Over time, they free us from relying on others’ approval and help us discover that our deepest worth has been within us all along.
Remember, Recovery is happening right now, in this moment.