Prayer is a funny thing. How does one do it? What’s the purpose of it? Over the years, my prayer life has changed. And the ways in which I think of prayer, and it’s various uses, has also changed.
Continue readingRecovery & Addiction
Soul Snatcher
The soul-snatcher glared at me from the dusty street corner with fiery orange eyes, his hands cupped over his mouth because of the early morning cold.
I had been out late that night, and I was returning home a little tipsy.
“Hello there,” he said. “Looking for your fix?”
Addiction is Like (a poem)
Addiction is like an old record skipping,
caught in a permanent loop,
but you can’t stop the needle,
because you’re handcuffed to the radiator
and your hand is sore and bleeding from
trying to break free –
so you keep pulling until you realize
you can only accept the skipping sound
and once you do that, it’s like
you don’t even hear it.
(Photo by Steve Harvey on Unsplash)
Spirit and Flesh (a poem)
This gothic cathedral was once a spiritual home.
Priests dabbed foreheads with holy water and
incense wafted to high ceilings and
parishioners chewed on wafers and said:
“Peace be with you.”
Continue readingFar from God (a poem)
I must get off this path of sin, and find my
inner-being in God, but I do not know how.
I pray, but I no longer feel the consolation
I once felt – that wholeness and joy, like I was
being held tightly in His arms.
Continue readingPride: My Biggest Character Defect
During the years I’ve been in recovery, I’ve learned alternative definitions to many common words. Take “pride” for example. In most cases, it’s deemed good to be proud of one’s self. In recovery and religious terms, though, pride is seen as one of the biggest sins or “character defects.”
Continue readingOn Anxiety and Choosing Faith over Fear
Rachel has told me many times before of her struggles with anxiety. When I listened to her, I used to not be able to understand it. I’ve always thought of myself as a fairly calm person, and I can remember many moments from over the past several years where I’ve felt very peaceful.
Continue readingHappy Father’s Day!
Today is a sad day for me, but I’m also feeling hopeful. This marks the second Father’s Day since my dad passed away. In fact, tomorrow will mark the second anniversary of the day he passed. My life irrevocably changed that day on June 22, 2018, but I feel that my grief journey has gotten lighter.
Continue readingThe Hate Inside of Me (a poem)
I only wanted love from you, but loving you was pain –
the laughter one day, followed by grief and terror
from whatever state you happened to be in.
I ask myself, “Who were you?”
You discarded me like an object and
closed off that side of yourself
that seemed to contain the Devil.
Continue readingWithdrawal (a poem)
Why come out of your cage
when it’s so cozy in here?
Don’t emphasize the warring world:
it will never change.
Sit in solitude – no one can reach you here.
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