November 19 – Bring Hope
“That where there is despair, I may bring hope. (Today)” — Prayer of Saint Francis
There’s a line in the Big Book I hope I’ll never forget — “the Four Horsemen: Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, and Despair.” They say if we want to get a handle on our drinking problem, we have to learn to live by the spiritual principles of the Steps. There are principles in those Four Horsemen too — the principles of untreated alcoholism.
Terror — extreme fear.
Bewilderment — confusion.
Frustration — the inability to manage.
Despair — loss of hope.
Having alcoholism means those Four Horsemen are still out there, polishing the one-way ticket back to booze with my name on it. Purpose doesn’t mean perfection—it just means showing up and letting recovery do the talking.
Peace of mind speaks louder than any words I could ever speak. I try to remember the newcomer who’s walking through that door, probably carrying those Four Horsemen on his back, grinding him into the ground. A simple handshake or a hug might be the first spark of hope he’s felt in years.
What simple thing has someone done for you that reminded you hope still exists?
