As the days shorten and the year draws to a close, we’re invited to slow down and look inward. For those walking the path of recovery, this season can test resilience—but also reveal deep growth. In this month’s issue, I reflect on the Heroic Journey’s lessons for navigating the holidays with purpose, gratitude, and grace.
As we enter December, the final stretch of the year, we’re invited into a natural pause. The colder air, the quieter mornings, and the shorter days all seem to whisper an invitation to slow down and listen. The holidays can amplify emotions: joy, longing, gratitude, and sometimes discomfort. All of these are part of the journey.
This newsletter is meant to be a steady place to land. A reminder that your journey has meaning, that your progress matters, and that spiritual grounding is available even in the most demanding seasons.
Howard Thurman wrote, “There is very great virtue in the cultivation of silence, and strength to be found in using it as a door to God.”
There is an incredible amount of noise in our lives. Dogs bark, children scream and chatter, the radio and television blare, there is traffic noise, planes fly overhead, our phones emit noises constantly…and on and on. We are accustomed to noise and don’t give it much thought. What we have little experience of and tolerance for is silence. When all gets quiet, we become restless and stir something up. We turn on the TV, go online, make a phone call, say something to somebody…
One way to start the day on a positive note is to read or listen to a brief meditation.
Dozens of books and on-line vehicles are available for this purpose. My favorite is a daily message that I get in an email from the Center for Action and Contemplation. This organization was founded years ago by Father Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest. While some of the messages contain Christian content, I find the messages to be far more spiritual than religious. Fr. Richard remains active in the organization, and he has several excellent teachers and spiritual scholars on the staff. I strongly recommend them for a daily dose of soundly reasoned spirituality. In addition, you will find courses, podcasts, and other kinds of offerings as well.
My Blog - Step Twelve - An Unexpected Emphasis
As we move into the close of the year, I’m beginning a new series exploring each of the Twelve Steps. Not as slogans or obligations, but as invitations on the heroic journey of recovery. Each month, I’ll take one step and look at what it really asks of us, how it shows up in daily life, and how it strengthens the path toward healing and meaning. I’m starting this series in December with Step Twelve, because service, connection, and carrying the message are especially important during a season that can feel both tender and complicated. My hope is that these reflections offer grounding for those in recovery and insight for the people who support them.
Let’s walk this path together, one step at a time.
"Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Master makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole universe."
Silence and solitude are not the same thing, but they are closely interrelated. In a real way it is easier to feel connected to the universe when silent and alone than when in a crowded space.
On the Bookshelf
In our society about fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. Divorce is one of the most emotionally traumatic experiences one can encounter, and usually nothing in the past life of the individual has prepared them for divorce. Justin Milrad has written a book, You 2.0, which discusses the difficulties in detail and gives much practical advice for ...
As the holidays approach, many in recovery face unique emotional and spiritual challenges. I offer in-person and virtual speaking engagements, workshops, and reflective sessions designed to support individuals and teams through this meaningful season.
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