Guide Me in My Recovery. John T. Farrell
is the soul of life.
The whole universe revolves in rhythm.
Everything and every human action
revolve in rhythm.
The Way of the Bodhisattva
A BUDDHIST MORNING PRAYER
For as long as space endures
And for as long as
living beings remain
Until then may I too abide
To dispel the misery of the world.
St. Patrick’s Breastplate
ANCIENT CELTIC HYMN
I arise today through the strength
of the love of Cherubim
In obedience of Angels,
in the service of the Archangels,
In hope of resurrection
to meet with reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
in predictions of Prophets,
In preachings of Apostles,
in faiths of Confessors,
In innocence of Holy Virgins,
in deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through the strength of Heaven;
Light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendor of Fire,
Speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea,
Stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.
I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me:
Against snares of devils,
Against temptations of vices,
Against inclinations of nature,
Against everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.
Be Still
WILLIAM PENN
In the rush and noise of life,
as you have
Intervals, step within yourself
and be still.
Wait upon God and feel
his good presence;
This will carry you through
your day’s business.
In recovery, we learn that addiction is a disease that has damaged us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Another word for recovery in this context would be healing. Once we cease living in active addiction we begin to get better and to repair the damage as best we can. In some areas, we bounce back quickly; others take longer, and some things may never be totally repaired. But, we do get better.
Healing is actually an extended conversation with God, a befriending of the flesh, mind, heart, and spirit that have been bruised and incised. Prayers of healing are especially important for us. We pray that our experiences of the pain and struggle of addiction be blessed with God’s healing touch. We ask that God’s grace and love wash over us and weave together the tattered strands of our hurting bodies, minds, emotions, and souls. We pray until our pain is eased into peace, and then we pray our thanks for the respite we have been granted.
The following prayers are a reminder to us that part of our healing process is to care for others with the same love and compassion we are given from others, and include two derived from Native American spirituality and a poem by John Donne. Some of the prayers focus on physical illness, others on spiritual malaise, still others make no distinction. The final prayer concerns HIV/AIDS, a disease to which we have lost many brethren in and out the rooms of recovery.
Lord, Please Help Me
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
Lord, please help me to bring
Comfort where there is pain
Courage where there is fear
Hope where there is despair
Acceptance when the end is near and
A touch of gentle with tenderness,
patience, and love.
She Who Heals
AN AMERICAN INDIAN HEALING PRAYER
Mother, sing me a song
That will ease my pain,
Mend broken bones,
Bring wholeness again.
Catch my babies
When they are born,
Sing my death song,
Teach me how to mourn.
Show me the medicine
Of the healing arts,
The value of spirit,
The way I can serve.
Mother, heal my heart
So that I can see
The gifts of yours
That can live through me.
I Am Worthy A Prayer for All Those in Recovery
REV. JOHN T. FARRELL
I am worthy of recovery, serenity, and a happy life.
I am worthy of achieving these things,
no matter what I have done up to this point in life
and whatever transgressions I may have committed.
I am still worthy.
I am competent and intelligent, no matter how badly
I did in school and what my employment history is.
I can make a contribution, no matter what anyone
has told me to the contrary. I alone have the means
to reach my dreams. I am worthy to live my dreams.
The road of life is difficult, not just for me,
but for everyone. It does me no good to compare
myself to others. All are worthy in the eyes of God
and all face unique challenges. I shall be honest
about who I am and will move away from my
preoccupation with self. It is not humility
to be something I am not or what others expect
me to be. I will be myself because I am worthy.
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