Steps to the Spirit

Send us Fan Mail  I am about to make the most important decision of my life! No pressure, right? There are many ways, or words, I use to describe this surrender to my spirit and God. It is the infinite, or absolute, or ultimate, or eternal yes. I prefer, simply, ‘the Spiritual Yes’. No matter how I describe it, the one thing that is certain is that there is nothing, not one assertion or decision o...

Send us Fan Mail  So, if you have been listening, I had a sort of epiphany when I did the episodes on step 2. There was never a doubt in my mind that the 3rd step was the most important and life changing. However, I now realize that without the belief I found in step 2, there would be no God on which to base the next ten steps! Now, I must take that information, that belief, and use it to make the...

Send us Fan Mail  I’ll conclude step 2 by speaking a little about my/our insanity. What does “restore me to sanity” mean? A dictionary meaning says sanity is: the ability to think and behave in a normal and rational manner. Well, I’m not even sure I knew what sanity was, no less, be restored to it. As a matter of fact, I still wonder if my addiction actually kept me from going off the deep end.

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode I will finish up with my experience of God and how I connect with God on a daily basis. Warning: There will NOT be any bright lights, angels, or voices from above in this episode! I’m sure you can find stories of such things all over the internet. I don’t knock them or disbelieve them. For me, however, it has not happened that way. I am a simple, ordinary guy who,...

Send us Fan Mail Before we are restored to sanity, I would like to speak a little (maybe a lot!), about my experience and path to the discovery of God within myself. Let me be crystal clear, for me, a Higher Power or Power greater than myself, is God ! It is NOT a group, a person or sponsor or any other physical or earthly thing. God may be described as He or She, (I do not believe God has a sex....

Send us Fan Mail So, this is the step that my spiritual program is really based on. In step 3 I must decide my path and if I will be willing to allow my Spirit to lead me. However, it is in this step that I MUST declare my belief in God! It is with this awareness of God’s love, protection, and Power, that I am able to find the strength and support to continue on this path. The literature says, “wh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I want to say just a little about the 2nd part of this step, admitting that my life is unmanageable. When I was finally ready to experience these steps in honesty, God helped me to see the ‘real’ me. Before I surrendered to my spirit, I was like a train wreck. Now I become ready to relinquish the control that I never even had. I realized that, looking at where I en...

Send us Fan Mail The last thing I wanted to admit was that I was not captain of my own vessel. My ego, and its partner, rationalization, would never let go of their control without some kind of outside intervention! Maybe I should say, ‘inside’ intervention. My Spirit was, (as I believe everyone’s Spirit does), poking and pleading more and more. Yes, I had a sense it was there, but I managed to ke...

Send us Fan Mail In my 77 years I have attempted these steps in 3 ways. The first attempt was purely through and for my ego . My life was a mess and I simply wanted to feel and look good . The 2nd attempt was more sincere. I absolutely believed my life to be in shambles and I had become willing to change . I realized that by living my life in the same way as before, I would get the same results. A...

Send us Fan Mail I know, the plan was to start the spiritual aspects of the steps, but, it kept gnawing at me that I kind of left you hanging when I described my great relationship with my Spirit and stopped. In actuality, it was a wonderful beginning and I thought it important to at least touch on that. So, this episode is about what to do with my life after discovering the presence of God.  

Send us Fan Mail I continue with my spiritual adventure. In this episode I will talk about my hearing the pleas of my spirit and finally becoming willing to surrender all in order to gain so much more! In the next episode, I will talk about the steps as a spiritual way of life.

Send us Fan Mail As a start to this 2nd year of my podcast, Steps to the Spirit, I think it is only fitting that I explain my experience wit my spiritual discovery. Of coarse, I can’t describe this perfectly; I don’t believe anyone can. After all, I am using human words to try to describe a spiritual experience! I shall do my best and hope to encourage you (if you haven’t already), to find your ow...

Send us Fan Mail Christmas is a special time for me, both as a Christian, and as a learner and worker of these 12 steps. Now, I hope, I am looking at Christmas as the true beginning of a story that ends with receiving the Holy gift of Spirit. So, for this final episode of my first season of podcasts, I will share my thoughts of the Christmas season. I’ll also talk about the greatest person to ever...

Send us Fan Mail Now what? We have examined the 12 steps, admittedly, in a rudimentary way, and we are ready to forge ahead! In this episode, I want to talk about motivation – what benefit do I expect from them? Of course, I can use them to change my lifestyle and put those things that ‘held me back’, behind me, or, will I use them to discover my true self? In this episode, in preparation for Seas...

Send us Fan Mail In part 5 of step 12, we will talk about the all-encompassing payoff of doing my best with this program – practicing these principles in ALL my affairs! I will also talk about how to get the most from a twelve step program. I will end with a prayer I wrote years ago, I tried to cover all of the steps in one prayer. The next 2 episodes will be 1 week before Christmas and Christmas...

Send us Fan Mail In part 4 of step 12, we will discuss “carrying the message”. What are the different ways to allow my newly found light to shine and thus, help others? Also, what was meant by “others”?

Send us Fan Mail In part 3 of step 12, we will talk about timing and what is meant by “as a result of this course of action”. When can I start 12th step work? Is it sometimes dangerous for me?

Send us Fan Mail In part 2 of step 12, we will compare the different forms of this step. The original step 12 was worded “had a spiritual experience” and has since become “a spiritual awakening”.

Send us Fan Mail Step 12 is the third, and last, maintenance step, as well as the final step. However, this step can just as easily be thought of as the spiritual container for all of these steps. This step encourages us to adapt our very lives to the tenets of these steps, and to allow them to direct us in a new way of life. It also lays the groundwork for us to help one another in a true spirit...

Send us Fan Mail  To remind you, step 11 is the 2nd of the maintenance steps. In Part 5, I will finish up step 11 (I know, finally, right?) with an overview of what it means to me and why it is an integral and oh so necessary part of my life.  The next episode will begin step 12, the final maintenance step. It will also be presented in multiple parts, due to its importance in my addiction free and...

Send us Fan Mail To remind you, step 11 is the 2nd of the maintenance steps. In Part 4, I will address exactly what it is that I am praying for. Of course, my idea of a relationship with God is that God always will provide exactly what I need and that asking is unnecessary. Then I ask for the power to achieve these things which, I feel is also already ours. However, perhaps prayer such as this rem...

Send us Fan Mail To remind you, step 11 is the 2nd of the maintenance steps. In Part 3, I am adding another dimension to prayer, contemplation. In prayer and meditation, I speak to and think about, God. However, in contemplation, I feel as though the circle becomes complete as I wait for God to speak to me. I cannot try to describe the experience of learning to be ‘with’ God. It is purely personal...

Send us Fan Mail To remind you, step 11 is the 2nd of the maintenance steps. In Part 2, I continue briefly about prayer and go on to meditation. I don’t seem to be motivated towards either of these forms of communicating with God, but I want to share my thoughts about them with you. Actually, I have changed the ‘gift’ I associate with this step from prayer to communication. It just seems more appr...

Send us Fan Mail We interrupt this podcast for an important announcement:  These steps are guidelines for life!  When I heard this week that depression has increased threefold since Covid, I had to present a few helpful (I hope), thoughts. Please, if you are experiencing depression, take a look at what a twelve step program has to offer, and how these steps can change your life.

Send us Fan Mail Step 11 is the 2nd of the maintenance steps. If it is possible to have a ‘favorite’ step, then this would be mine. Steps 11 & 12 are simply loaded with possibilities for growth, both in my life, and my connection to my Spirit. I’m calling this Part 1 because I’m certain I will need at least 3 parts to give this step the attention it deserves.