Larry Winter

Recovery is a mystical experience about healing and the 12 steps. Imagine we are in a cabin deep in the woods. On the outside of the cabin door, branches are peeking through the wood planks as if the door has not been open for a while. The branches cover half of the door and it […]

What does it mean in Recovery to be born again? There are several paths we can take. I am sitting in my home office typing this blog. Before being seated I cracked open a window about one inch in length. The wind is strong I can hear it but I am uncertain where it comes

Imagine that today is our birthday (If it is Happy Birthday). There are three distinct messages in the card offering wisdom for our Recovery. The first message on the cover is “Be Not Afraid.” Draw on the courage we have inside of ourselves to extinguish any fear blocking our healing. The next message upon opening

I desire honesty in my inner being; therefore, Recovery teach me wisdom in my heart. If this is something you look for it may take “repentance” which comes from the Greek word ‘metania’, which means a change of thinking. The change in thinking will change our behavior. Repentance signifies that we are open to change.

When I speak to people in Recovery or those who attend a support group the word, ‘Guilt’ often comes out. If I asked Catholics what we are known for the answer usually is, “Catholic Guilt.” Depending on a person’s view of the world I may get different answers. If we look back over how we

Jim and Steve were going to the ‘Healing Place’ for the six o’clock hour to attend a Peer Support Group. A man suffering from severe depression and anxiety from adolescence was dropped off by a friend to attend the group. The man begged for healing from the people who were entering the building. When the

When I began Recovery I had patches over my eyes. Depressed Anonymous allows me to admit the truth and accept responsibility – the opposite is denial and blame. I admit I was afraid because I was exposed, but I was still in denial. I avoided the real reasons I was sad and anxious, and the

We can let go of any mirage we hold onto that Recovery is something other than to struggle, suffer, and love and value interdependent relationships, no matter how rumbled things become in our lives. I fall short many times to live out the steps of Recovery. For instance, I have become a little weary serving

Last evening we observed Holy Thursday in the Catholic Church. A tradition is the priest washes the feet of people in a similar format that Christ did at the Last Supper to his apostles. I was able to participate in this ritual which has an incredible amount of meaning in my life. When my wife

It has been a while since offering a reflection on our Family of Origin. To heal we need to go to our roots and find out how we have become the people we are. “We are our parents.” as the saying goes. As children, we internalized our parent’s personality. Even now grandparents, stepparents, or guardians