November 17 – Bring Truth
“That where there is error, I may bring truth. (Today)” — Prayer of Saint Francis
“Divided we fall.” Sometimes I used to catch myself with this Super Bowl mindset—like life’s a big game and someone has to win. There can only be one winner, and everybody else loses. Coke vs. Pepsi. McDonald’s vs. Burger King. Me vs. you. Somewhere along the way, I started believing that’s how life works— that’s capitalism, not spiritual life.
Just because the Browns are good doesn’t mean the Steelers have to suck. The truth is, we’re all walking home together on this spiritual path. While sitting in an AA meeting, I try to remember that each of us had one really rough night that connected us here. Loss of hope is a hell of a motivator. Making someone feel disconnected, less than, or like they don’t belong is not going to help anything move forward.
In AA, as soon as you walk through the door, you become a winner. That’s the truth. It takes an immense amount of courage to seek help. For me, truth wasn’t thrown at me—it was developed over time. The first truth was simple: this alcohol problem was kicking my ass. From there, more was revealed.
Old harmful ideas built on opinion start slipping away the longer we stick around. Inventory helps. Meeting with other alcoholics becomes a top priority. And patience—with myself and others—starts growing, in the meetings and out in the world.
It’s life. Welcome to the Winner's Circle. As long as the drink isn’t in my hand, I get to participate. There’s a barstool somewhere with my name carved into it, waiting for me to come back—but today, that thought hits like a nightmare instead of a fantasy.
What’s one truth that keeps you grounded when your ego wants to compete?
