Life is full of new discoveries. Such was the case on this date in history, 1781. Sir William Herschel observed the planet Uranus for the first time on March 13, 1781, from the garden in his backyard at 19 New King Street in Bath Somerset, England. After processing what he had seen, he reported his…
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) identifies five signs that you are likely an addict. The first time I read this, I checked all five boxes. I’m guessing you do, as well. But the good news is, there is a God who can help, who can lead you out of…
William Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players.” (As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7) What does that mean? This 17th-century comedy features this timeless line from Jaques. He is essentially contending that life follows a script. People play pre-determined roles, as in a theater…
On this date in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell placed the first phone call. He called his assistant, Thomas Watson, who was in another room in the same house. His message: “Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you.” The telephone has come a long way in the last 150 years. Sadly, I’m old enough…
“The merit of all things lies in their difficulty.” (Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers) If you’re afraid of hard work, good luck with recovery! I would argue that recovery works, not despite the fact that it is hard, but because it is hard. It requires something of us. Recovery is not a hobby. It must…
There are a few things in life that simply don’t make sense. Here’s another one for you – people who claim to be in recovery but who don’t go to meetings, work the Steps, or have a sponsor. Their words and actions are in conflict. It reminds me of a verse in the New Testament:…
It was a classic TV hit in the early days of sci-fi shows. Though it wasn’t on for long, Lost in Space captured a loyal audience from 1965 to 1968. Most viewers will remember the iconic line from the robot to the young boy on the show: “Danger, Will Robinson!” You may be surprised to…
I’m a natural planner. And I’m a great starter. But I quickly move on to other projects. I am too easily bored with that thing called follow-through. That’s why I was perturbed when I read this quote from Victor Frankl: “Actually spending ten minutes clearing off one shelf is better than fantasizing about spending an…
“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” (Andy Bernard, The Office) I remember the “good old days” of my spiritual walk. Days when I couldn’t wait to get into the Word each morning. Days when I prayed as though nothing else was on…
A patient was pleased with his medical exam. The doctor looked him over and said, “You seem to be in very good shape. You must get a good bit of exercise.” The patient explained, “Yes, doctor, I do. In fact, just yesterday, I walked five miles over rugged terrain as I climbed over rocks and…