Inspiration

An Empowering Story of 30 Years of Sobriety from Yvonne a Guest House Donor

Dear Guest House Family,

What an utterly wonderful surprise today when I opened the mail and received your beautiful Peace card in celebration of my 30th sober anniversary!!! Your kindness has touched me so deeply! I thought, “How do I thank you,” and then I thought, “What better way to thank all of you who may still be struggling with alcohol than to share my story with you?” It’s not that my story is so great, but rather I hope it shows you that being sober is simply, absolutely, and positively FABULOUS! Believe me, it is all worth the initial struggle, because everything just gets better and better and better. In time, you each will find yourself becoming comfortable with yourself: becoming comfortable with your world, and-with all that comfort-you will be able comfortably to do things you never imagined you could do. So to begin at the beginning, my adventure, in fact, starts in Michigan. Born to a family with alcoholism (no surprise-research is increasingly substantiating alcoholism to be not only a disease, but also an inherited disease based not on will- power or the lack thereof, but rather on brain chemical imbalances-! also had the good fortune along the way to do post-graduate study in our disease), I remember the parties and the yachts and all the fun, always accompanied with alcohol.

SOBRIETY AND ALL THAT IT MEANS

By Mary Ellen Merrick, IHM, D. Min., MAC
Executive Director, Guest House Women’s Treatment Program

My community has a publication that we make available several times a year and it usually has articles centering on a theme.  A few issues back, the theme was “Celebrate” and I was asked to write an article about celebrating sobriety.  I took the letters of the word SOBRIETY and said the following about each letter.

S  -  for many people sobriety is a SECOND chance to fulfill a covenant between a God who loves unconditionally and a humanchild who comes to understand that truth in a deeper way.

O  – for the OPPORTUNITIES to be a genuine service to other people who are also in need of understanding and compassion.

B  -  for the ability to understand what BALANCE means in the daily living out of one’s life.  It includes leisure and prayer.

R  -  for the desire to be in RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with oneself, others and the God of my understanding.  This may necessitate learning skills that will enhance communication.

I  –   for the effort to become a person of INTEGRITY.  Does the inside match the outside when I am alone and when I am with others? Who gives me feedback about myself?

E  -  for the EFFORT that is the foundational in order to do the daily work of remaining sober.

T  -  for the TRUST that is needed to sustain a program of recovery.

Y  -  for the YES to believe in the possibility of continuing sobriety and to accept it as a gift.

“Trust God, clean house (that is my soul) and help others.”

Reflection for May 13, 2013

With today’s Gospel from St. John, we come to the end of what is called the “farewell discourse of Jesus.”  Jesus gives us his final word about our future in this world:  “I have told you all this so that you might have peace in me . . . take courage since I have conquered the world.”   (John 16:29-33)

In AA we often say that we will be delivered from our obsession to alcohol if we seek God and trust in Him alone.  This, of course, has to be more than just mouthing words.  It has to be rooted deep within our heart that God and His Spirit dwells within us.  Calling upon that Spirit throughout this day, we will be led rightly.

‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,’

Reflection for Monday, May 6, 2013

Today we are reminded of the important place of women in society and thus in the AA program.  In the Acts of the Apostles first reading for today, we find Paul at prayer with women from Philippi, a Roman colony.  “We spent some time in that city.  On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer.  We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia….listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.  After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,’ and she prevailed on us.”   (Acts 16:11-15)

Reflection for May 9, 2013: Remember Jesus Ascending to His Father in Heaven

Today is the day we remember Jesus ascending to His Father in heaven.  Thus we call it “Ascension Thursday”.   What exactly does this mean for those of us in recovery?

For one thing, we can easily reflect that we too have “ascended” to a new life from what we experienced when we were drinking ourselves silly.  It is good for us today to review a bit about where we came from and where we are now.

Luke tells us in his account from the “Acts of the Apostles” “….But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1:1-11) This was the instruction of Jesus to those gathered with him just before He ascended to His Father.

Do we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit promised us and given to us from The Lord?  If we really believe then we will call on this power today to lighten our spirit, bringing us new joy.

Guest House Launches Distance Learning

Dear Friend,

Guest House is North America’s founding behavioral health and addiction program for Catholic clergy and religious.  Since 1956, we’ve provided personalized clinical treatment with a spiritual emphasis.  Our goal is focused:  To successfully return men and women to their mission.  Our accredited full time clinical staff provides these services at our tranquil, private residential facilities.

To provide such important treatment, education and recovery to more than 8,000 clients since our inception, we’ve constantly sought out new and innovative ways to treat, reach, educate, serve and follow-up with our clients. As part of our mission to the Church, we have recognized that the valuable information compiled in our field is crucial to all servants of the Church, and all advocates of education, prevention, intervention, treatment and lifelong sobriety, including:

Humility – this essential attitude for the recovering alcoholic

Our scripture for today almost seems to be lifted from the “Big Book” of Alcoholic Anonymous:  “Beloved, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for:  God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.  So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.  Be sober and vigilant.  Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.  The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.  To him be dominion forever.  Amen.”   (First Letter of St. Peter 5:5b-14)

“….And all shall sing, in their festive dance: My home is within you.”

The psalm assigned for today (Ps. 87) speaks of “….And all shall sing, in their festive dance:  My home is within you.”  For me, this ancient prayer is telling me about the intimate relationship God has with me.  I need not seek Him;  He resides in me.

Those of us in recovery from alcoholism have learned that intimacy with our Higher Power is crucial to our daily life.  Either we are aware of God’s presence or we slide back into self-destruction.  Once we start to feel we don’t need God’s guidance, we are indeed on a very slippery slope.

Reflection for Monday, April 15, 2013:

“….Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.  So they said to him, ‘What can we do to accomplish the works of God?’  Jesus answered and said to them,  ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.’”    (John 6:26-29)

“He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.” John 3:34

We’re told when we come to AA that we are powerless.  That is certainly true of curing ourselves of the disease of alcoholism.  However, once we get the Higher Power (God) in our lives, we begin to realize that we have power, namely, the power of the Spirit.  This enlivening Spirit becomes more present and real to us as we pray and meditate daily.  Gradually we find we have a tremendous ability to influence others for the good.  This makes us not only feel worthwhile but also useful to humankind.  Isn’t this something!   A great contrast from our earlier life in the bog of alcoholism.

Easter Reflection for April 10, 2013

The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail.  But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, ‘Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.’  When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught.  Act. 5:17-18

Easter Monday Reflection:

“They hurried away from the tomb half-overjoyed, half-fearful, and ran to carry the good news to his disciples.  Suddenly, without warning, Jesus stood before them and said, ‘Peace!’  The women came up and embraced his feet and did him homage.  At this Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid!  Go and carry the news to my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, where they will see me.”

Holy Thursday Prayer and Inspiration

“Before the feast of Passover, Jesus realized that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father.  He had loved his own in this world, and would show his love for them to the end….Jesus—fully aware that he had come from God and was going to God, the Father who had handed everything over to him – rose from the meal and took off his cloak.  He picked up a towel and tied it around himself.  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel he had around him….After he had washed their feet,

Lenten Reflection for Wednesday of Holy Week:

“One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’  They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.”   Matthew 26:14-15

Tuesday of Holy Week:

The scripture for today has us read and ponder Jesus at table with His disciples.  During the meal we hear Jesus say, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”  It is impetuous Peter who asks John to find out from Jesus who this might be.  Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.  So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot.  After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.  So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 

Prayer and inspiration for Monday of Holy Week

“Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the village of Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  There they gave him a banquet, at which Martha served.  Lazarus was one of those at table with him.  Mary brought a pound of costly perfume made from genuine aromatic nard, with which she anointed Jesus’ feet.  Then she dried his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the ointment’s fragrance.”  John 12: 1-3

Lenten Reflection March 19, 2013

Today is a special day.  It is the feast day of Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus.  In addition it is also the day that Pope Francis officially takes office as the Vicar of Christ.  In no little measure this is a harbinger of a “new spring” although the season of Spring officially begins tomorrow.

Lenten Reflection March 18, 2013

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.  He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.”

Today’s psalm is the beautiful poetry and prayer which we know as the 23^rd psalm.  What a comfortable and consoling thought it is to know that The Lord Jesus himself prayed this psalm of David.  He often spoke in the synagogues of his land and took up the Hebrew scriptures to proclaim the word of God.

For myself, I think of myself as His sheep dog.  I hear His voice and if I’m attentive and focused He leads me through the valley of life today so that I come to the evening unscathed.

Psalm 23 continues:   “Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.”

What is this “house of the Lord”?  Naturally I can accurately think of my favorite church or chapel in which I feel at home and is conducive to prayer.  But, for me, more importantly “the house of the Lord” is my body in which He dwells.  That is my conviction and I must forever act accordingly.  Today I ask The Lord to preserve my body in which He dwells and make me holy and whole.  Only then can I be of service to His people.    Amen.

These thoughts offered by Brother Richard Hittle, S.J., a grateful 1980 graduate of Guest House and an employee since 2004.

Lenten Reflection

For today, I am using the scriptural readings for the second Sunday of Lent in which Peter says to The Lord, “Master, it is good that we are here.”  [Luke 9:33]

This was occasioned by Jesus taking Peter, James and John up on the mountain where a great cloud descended on them and a voice came out of the heavens proclaiming “This is my Son; listen to Him.”

Impulsive Peter says, probably without thinking, “Lord, it is good that we are here.  Let me build three tents here, one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  I suspect we would say something similar since even we know there is nothing quite like living in the presence of our God and feeling His presence with us.  That should be our goal today.  I will try to be mindful of the presence of God throughout this 24-hour period and experience His joy and peace.

Prayer:  The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?  The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?  One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.  Amen.

These thoughts offered by Brother Richard Hittle, S.J., a grateful 1980 graduate of Guest House and an employee since 2004.

Ash Wednesday Reflection

All of today’s Scripture texts speak a sharp and direct word to us in recovery.  The reading from the Prophet Joel [2:12-18], “Rend your hearts not your garments”,  makes us look inward to our desires, our evil doing, our tendency to be selfish, greedy etc.  This stance requires a great deal of humbleness and not a little fortitude of spirit.  But what better time to get to work on “cleaning house” than the holy season of Lent.  The Corinthian reading for today, 2 Cor. 5:20 – 6:2, exhorts us to be reconciled to God.  “Behold, now is the acceptable time.”

Finally, the Gospel ascribed for Ash Wednesday, Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18, “Your Father who sees in secret will repay you”, pulls the shade on any outward show of good deeds done for the wrong reason.  We are not about building up our own egos but rather we are about keeping our eyes fixed on our Higher Power.  Doing so will eliminate or at least cut down the tendency to be seen as a do-gooder.   We have The Lord’s word for this:  “Your Father who sees you in secret will reward you”.

Prayer:  Father, You know my needs for this Lent.  Help me to listen to Your promptings in my heart and have the courage to carry out these promptings.

These thoughts offered by Brother Richard Hittle, S.J., a grateful 1980 graduate of Guest House and an employee since 2004.