I’ve been in Twelve Step recovery for many years and yet I’m still “a seeker”. What I mean by this is that from a young age I was never comfortable with a black-or-white answer; I loved exploring the gray areas of life.
Often I catch myself saying that I’m a Christian…and more. I never felt that [...]

Josie and Jim Herndon would like to honor their dear friend and brother in spirit, Charley Narcomey, who God took for His own Sunday, June 27, 2010.
J. Charles Narcomey (Citizen Band Pottawatomi/Muscogee Creek) honored his heritage by incorporating traditional ways into every aspect of their lives.  Charley and his wife, Sparrow, were called upon many times [...]

What is Forgiveness?
Forgiveness is not to…

Condone
Forget
Tolerate
Ignore
Approve
Excuse
Minimize
Pardon
Deny
Absolve
Reconcile
An invite to hurt again
Surrendering justice

Forgiveness is a decision to not…

Retaliate
Exact revenge
Seek compensation
Judge

Forgiveness is a decision to…

Release them
Release ourselves
Be released

What is the process?
Accept the facts: Betrayal = a reflection.
Open your mind, memories and heart to remember the hurts, the wounds, where and when you have been let down, dishonored, abused, [...]

“The greatest power in our lives is our capacity to imagine,
vision or dream, not only when we are young but over and
over again throughout the life cycle. It is an essential
lifestyle ingredient for the self-renewing adult.”
—Frederic M. Hudson, Ph.D.
A Vision is a picture of how we want our lives to look in the future. It [...]

Many years ago, the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung stated that the human psyche is “by nature religious.” He advocated understanding the psyche through exploring the worlds of dreams, art, mythology, religion and philosophy. Though not directly involved in the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, he influenced the thinking, and ultimate recovery from alcoholism, of a friend [...]

Many years ago I met a man from West Texas who told me a story that changed my life.  Good stories have the power to do that you know – and this was a good one.  What prompted its telling was my complaint that the 12-Step Program I belong to didn’t seem nearly as strong, [...]

After a 44 hour trip to Yogokarata, Indonesia, I began to wonder why did I ever agreed to be keynote speaker and presenter for two conferences? It is beyond hot and muggy and I am tired and a bit- no, a lot – fearful. At a large international conference entitled “Instilling Hope in Pastoral Care”, [...]

When I was asked to write an article commemorating the first year anniversary of the launch of RecoveryView.com – I wrestled with finding a topic that was “holiday related” as this was the initial request.  I thought of writing about what a tumultuous year it has been in the world AT LARGE with so many [...]

“We live in a purposeful universe.  Every organism in the universe has a design—a purpose that determines its function and role.  A critical part of our development is the inside-out search for purpose and meaning.”
–Richard J. Leider
Purpose is a need within us, the fulfillment of which gives us a feeling of belonging to the world and a relationship [...]

As Fall approaches I contemplate the “lavish wastefulness of nature.”
Leaves fall everywhere as trees shed their dead leaves.
I notice, however, that dead leaves do not actually “fall” from dead branches.
Dead leaves remain attached to the branch, holding tight to that which is dead.
How like those dead branches I am as I cling to my old [...]

It is often said that the recovery journey is spiritual. But what does it really mean?
I hope I’m not being “picky” when I say this, but I really do think that it is important to look at what we are saying and be able to explain it.
To say that the recovery journey is spiritual means [...]

Addictions come in all forms and wears many disguises, and even though you cannot always identify them, they are always bound up in the history of the family. Through some intensive work I have done at various rehabs, I have conceived of a program for “Overcoming Addiction Through A Holistic Approach.”  The reason for this [...]