The Fruit Bowl

September 7

THE FRUIT BOWL

Meetings are living and precious fruit.  I must squeeze every drop from them, even the lemons.  I am privileged to be among the succulent growth and pungent fragrance of determined hearts and minds.  The infusion of strength, the vitality received from the essence of truth gives and gives to me.  I am refreshed by exposure to raw talent, revived by action and growth.  The diversity of shape and flavor cheer and inspire me.  The contrast from bowl to chalice is dramatic, ever a reminder to stay where it’s fresh.

An offer is better than a gift.

*

Genius

I am often bonded to a self which thinks I know everything

and when in doubt believes I should know even if I don’t.

Freeing me of this requires the constant support

of friends and neighbors’ assuring me that in a capricious world

willingness is a more practical resource;

it packs neatly and handles most jobs with aplomb.

Staying consistently free from the bondage of self

requires truckloads of willingness

and the spirit of humility and sometimes even forgiveness.

I am freer when I like myself,

for the true bondage of self is the hatred of self.

You are reading selections from Sober on the Way to Sane and More Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/Sober-On-The-Way-Sane/dp/1440417342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576888&sr=8-1&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/More-Lines-From-My-Life/dp/1448677203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576956&sr=8-1&keywords=More+Lines+From+My+Life

I Know

August 11

I KNOW

I know more than I understand.  I know more than I let on.  I know right from wrong, left from right, uphill from down.  I know you have my best interest at heart.  I know I often don’t.  I know it hurts when I fall but holding on isn’t easy.  I know that wanting is not needing and needing is not enough.  I know old thinking breeds old action but new thinking is often wild and requires two minds for review.  I know to look three ways before crossing the street because trouble sometimes hits head on.  I know that if life is the question yes is the answer.

Instruct the youth living within.

*

T before S

When happiness is hard work

I have to learn to look for the lie.

There must be a lie, for happiness flows

unrestrained when not dammed.

What was built too far up river for me to see,

dries out my once liquid existence;

leaving me to flounder in the shallows.

I can’t allow myself to flop in the muck

of waters muddied with deceit.

I will permit myself to look for clear bright prospects

from melting glaciers and accustom myself to the invigoration

of a life lived under a loving watchful eye.

You are reading selections from Sober on the Way to Sane and More Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/Sober-On-The-Way-Sane/dp/1440417342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576888&sr=8-1&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/More-Lines-From-My-Life/dp/1448677203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576956&sr=8-1&keywords=More+Lines+From+My+Life

Renting Joy

July 4

RENTING JOY

I cannot buy happiness.  No matter how much money I spend, how hard I work, I can never pay bliss off on lay away.  The angles of escape for glee are phenomenal.  I see runaway emotions and must concede ownership.  When opportunities arise for satisfaction I pay the fare and take the trip.  The boat isn’t mine to keep but the tour is forever in my heart.  I can’t take it home to bury it in the yard.  Like a wild thing I can leave joy where I find it.  I never need to cage or bind it.  I need to enjoy each measure while the music plays.  I remunerate for time in proximity; delight arrives and stays as long as it likes.  I linger at the table and enjoy my dessert.  Leasing elation is an occasion of celebration.  Living moment to moment has given me this chance.  So, I take it.

Copy your favorite shape.

*

What is at the Eye of the Storm?

Serenity is the alignment of three knowledges

1. Knowing that I am not without skill, talent, gifts.

2.Knowing that I am not without community,

connection, comfort.

3.Knowing that I am not without God,

whether or not I believe God is able to intervene.

When I am in full or even partial possession of these three

I am safe from storm, or no, drought,

or no, fiery hairy pestilence.

Without this knowledge everything is

storm, drought and pestilence,

no matter what anyone else says or all evidence to the contrary.

I will make my own mess when bereft.

I will pay a large price for ignoring the facts

and the lion’s share of this loss is loss of my serenity

You are reading selections from Sober on the Way to Sane and More Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/Sober-On-The-Way-Sane/dp/1440417342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576888&sr=8-1&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/More-Lines-From-My-Life/dp/1448677203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576956&sr=8-1&keywords=More+Lines+From+My+Life

Canine Comprehension

October 22

Canine Comprehension

I wonder what it is that the dog knows.  True love, quantum physics, the ratio of lift to thrust required to make the ball fly, how food shared from my plate is better than food from her bowl.  This begs the next question.  What do I really know; song lyrics, nursery rhymes, old scores from old grudges?  What I hope I have learned; is the space it takes to keep an open mind, the willingness required to make a real change, and the width, depth and breath of honest affection.  If I haven’t learned these things I will put them at the top of my list of things to do.  Because I believe I can teach this old dog a few new tricks.

Not all friends are friendly

*

CONTROL

I have everything in the world but control
And yet it seems to be the only thing I yearn for.
Past history has made it difficult for me to have faith
And I have clung to scraps of control as in alternative.

I have hope but I have hope in a way
A disgruntled gambler has hope.
The horse may cross the finish line first
But it’s a long shot.

This is the trouble with control, if I could ride the horse
I might be able to exert some sway in the situation
But since my jockeying would only make things worse
My inability to secure the outcome leads me to despair.

And here I am, I am not in the race
I will not risk betting on the horse.
I have no skill accepting the capricious nature of life
And work hard not to be capricious myself.

This may be the crux of my problem
I work so hard to do things right instead of having fun.
I try constantly to keep things from going badly
I focus no time on creating joy in my life.

I may not believe much
But I do believe God wants me happy.
This could be the seed---which starts faith.

You are reading selections from More Sober on the Way to Sane and Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/More-Sober-The-Way-Sane/dp/144141231X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374072329&sr=8-3&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/Lines-My-Life-Sherrie-Theriault/dp/1448652820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374072576&sr=1-1&keywords=Lines+from+my+life%2C+Sherrie+theriault

Reflections of You

October 21

REFLECTIONS OF YOU

When people meet me they listen and stare, then the familiar words tumble from their mouths, “there is something about you.”  I know it’s the reflection of every person I saw at the meeting last night, the sober voices that created them, also the mirror of years spent in rooms just the same.  I know this is what is seen in me.  The bright light shines on me and the prism of time fans the colors to my new acquaintance.  I thank my Higher Power for letting me be a spectral instrument and I am grateful to the fellowship for shining the light on and through me.

Recycle absolutes into planters.

*

Canine Comprehension

I wonder what it is that the dog knows.

True love, quantum physics,

the ratio of lift to thrust required to make the ball fly,

how food shared from my plate

is better than food from her bowl.

This begs the next question.

What do I really know; song lyrics, nursery rhymes,

old scores from old grudges?

What I hope I have learned;

is the space it takes to keep an open mind,

the willingness required to make a real change,

and the width, depth and breath of honest affection.

If I haven’t learned these things

I will put them at the top of my list of things to do.

Because I believe I can teach this old dog a few new tricks.

I Know

August 11

I KNOW

I know more than I understand.  I know more than I let on.  I know right from wrong, left from right, uphill from down.  I know you have my best interest at heart.  I know I often don’t.  I know it hurts when I fall but holding on isn’t easy.  I know that wanting is not needing and needing is not enough.  I know old thinking breeds old action but new thinking is often wild and requires two minds for review.  I know to look three ways before crossing the street because trouble sometimes hits head on.  I know that if life is the question yes is the answer.

Instruct the youth living within.

*

T before S

When happiness is hard work

I have to learn to look for the lie.

There must be a lie, for happiness flows

unrestrained when not dammed.

What was built too far up river for me to see,

dries out my once liquid existence;

leaving me to flounder in the shallows.

I can’t allow myself to flop in the muck

of waters muddied with deceit.

I will permit myself to look for clear bright prospects

from melting glaciers and accustom myself to the invigoration

of a life lived under a loving watchful eye.