Imagine we are approaching a cave cut into the side of a mountain. Deep inside the cave is the remedy to counteract our mental health and substance misuse conditions. John crawls out, and we crawl in. Like John, we stood there inside the cave for five minutes. Motionless. Staring at the remedy. Not making a […]

There will not be a blog post on Friday, July 4, 2025. I will return on Monday, July 7, 2025, with more reflections, devotions, and activities. We are blessed to live in a country where we can freely assemble. I imagine there are locations around the world where people are unable to access a mental

How do we learn to be gentle? Gentleness is kindness, calmness, and softness. We may recline on the breast of a person we love. We may become gentle with ourselves and others if we do likewise. Then we will hear the heartbeats of Recovery, and we will be able to help others listen to them.

Recovery will help us resurrect from darkness into a different life, one full of compassion and kindness for ourselves and others. Susan experienced this sentiment when she began healing from a mental health and substance misuse condition. One day, she was out for a walk in the woods. Suddenly, she stops dead in her tracks

Linda lived up north in Hayward. Along with Larry and the other Recoverees, she had come to Eau Claire for a Recovery Conference. Through a friend, she had gotten a place to stay in the city, and she looked forward to the celebration. It turned out to be the worst couple of days of her

Saint Dymphna is the patroness saint of stress, anxiety, and mental health conditions. I received a prayer card from a friend several years ago. The source for the prayer is J.B. CO. Prayer to St. Dymphna Lord, our God, you graciously chose St. Dymphna as patroness of those afflicted with stress, anxiety, and mental health

Reflection for today. Our recovery, our friend, walk with us today. Hand in Hand, guide us to learn and to know what is good. Arm in arm, help us grow in our faith and love for one another. Side by side, stay by us to protect us and show us your ways. Heart to heart,

There is no room for us to boast about our efforts in Recovery. We lift our eyes to God (our higher power) and recognize with gratitude the divine grace and power at work in our lives. The 12th step says, “We gain self-awareness and insight into our Recovery as a result of listening to the

Recovery’s message fills us with wisdom, strength, and healing as we face the joys and challenges of each day. During our reflection time, we begin by quieting our minds. Then we listen for a personal invitation to divine love, and we receive wisdom to live like people working a Recovery Program every day and in

We are learning the way of Recovery from many people in our lives. This may include a person we meet at a support group, a therapist, a relative, presentations we have attended, books we have read, and other sources. We learn from our connections to reflect, abstain from unhealthy urges, and forgive people who have