November 19, 2025 “Listening With an Open Heart!”

I hope that wherever you are, you know Recovery is with you—right where you are.

Listening begins with desire. When I was a college athlete, I had to learn a lot. Pre-season helped me listen, understand the plays, and practice for the season ahead. I wanted to absorb everything my coaches taught me so I could be well-prepared for live action.

During pre-season, I built up my strength and opened my heart to what the coaches asked of me. Recovery works the same way. We begin by getting our hearts ready so we don’t miss the chance to live out the 12 steps in our daily lives. Recovery is creative, loving, and full of adventure. We prepare our hearts to listen for the gifts it has for us.

Recovery invites us to listen and be spiritually strengthened by the grace it offers. Listening means hearing with the intention of following. We take it in and hold it in our hearts.

Recovery speaks to open hearts, not perfect ones. When we go our own way, it can be a sign of pride, and we end up focused only on ourselves. So we ask: Do we have receptive hearts? Are we listening with desire? Desire is the pre-season of Recovery, even when we do not hear God’s—or a higher power’s—voice clearly.

Listening begins with a simple desire for Recovery. This desire opens the door to healing. We may say, I want peace, happiness, goodness, and a better life. Sometimes this is where Recovery begins. In our desperation, God—or a higher power—comes to coach us along. He wants us to listen, be open, and allow His guidance in our minds, hearts, and souls.