(Early BlogI today) IT WORKS!

YOU ARE GOD--NOT ME

Couple years ago I had the pleasure of working with (playing masses) a church music director, Jamie. She is now Music Director at another church in Naples. We did have a wonderful collaboration, musically and personally for nine months.

During one weekend, I was invited to a special retreat for "music people". One of the most wonderful moments for me was a service called "Taize"--I still do not know the full implications of Taize, except that I was touched then and forevermore, just by participating.

I just called Jamie, who promptly invited me to a repeat retreat, right now, get ready, GO! And that is why this Saturday blog is early. I marvel again at God's Gifts to me, at His allowing me to again experience His Softness, His soothing Graces, His Forgiveness, His LOVE, in the Taize format...or ANY format!

I realize this is not to do with recovery in general--but it is to do with my recovery. So please allow me this variance from my usual ranting about staying sober, being happy, peace, love, etc. This IS my recovery, Peeps!

Without having been given this beautiful program of Alcoholics Anonymous, I would NEVER have acquired the habit of kneeling every morning, and praying. Praying not for what I want, but for what God wants. And there are two words to which I cannot lend enough stress: "IT WORKS!"

Let's stay sober today, and pass it on to another. We are saving lives here. If a couple souls get wrung out in the bargain, I see no reason to complain.

I love my Peeps!
Steve E

THIS AND THAT....

HE: I WONDER IF TULIPS SMELL?
SHE: I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY HAD NOSES!

LITTLE BIT OF THIS AND THAT
AND EVERYTHING ELSE

Saturday, got to attend two AA meetings. Played violin all through the 3 PM Vigil Mass. I have some really beautiful arrangements which are obbligatos to the music liturgy of the whole mass, and I get to do the same thing today, Sunday, at the 10:30 AM. That will be after two more AA meetings. What a wonderfully spent weekend!

It was almost three years ago. I had been playing mass for about a year. The choir director and I had become good friends. We even shared private stories. One day I confided to her about my 'situation' with the catholic church--not being allowed to receive Holy Communion. She listened. The following Sunday, she abruptly stopped playing the communion hymn, grabbed me by the arm, walked me up to the altar, and we both received the host. And it was a huge emotional, spiritual and moving experience for me. It was the first time I had received the Host in over forty years! We both stood on the altar steps and cried...in front of 1,300 church members. No one but she and I knew what had just transpired. A soul had been blest and energized! Me.

She--her name, Jane--was one of several who played a prominent role in my return to the church of my 'yoot'. Every chance I had, was an opportunity to deny God. I was really a tough cookie for God to allow the many miracles He brought about in my life. Never give up. Never despair.

Of course, the biggest miracle was the gift of God's grace to stay sober, the gift of the Twelve Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous. That gift was wrapped into the same package with all you members of AA. Without the patience, tolerance, and experiences of you peeps, I would have passed out, and passed on, many years ago. Because, as you all know, "I" had to become "we" and "we" had to become "all of us in cooperation with our Higher Power, God".

This week I have a couple violin gigs, plus "a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a little bit of everything else". That quote has a history:

Each morning--about fifteen years ago, when I would ask Joel (a retarded client), "What ya been doin', Joel?"...his answer was--for five years, every day--"Oh, Steve...a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a little bit of everything else!"

I loved that guy--he taught me so much about life. The simple, uncomplicated life. The life of peace, acceptance, dependence, not CO-dependence. His soul now rests. He now has great knowledge, and great peace.

Today--again, finally--I'm hearing the birds sing, the pattering of a slow rain, and I can smell the roses, even the TULIPS!

In HUGE GRATEFULNESS, love, and service,
Sincerely,
Steve E.