Prodigal Son

There is a rather well-known story in the New Testament Gospel about a "Prodigal Son, " who is addicted to self-centeredness.  He takes his inheritance from his father who is still alive, and goes off to spend it all on personal pleasure.  Spends it all, including his nice clothes, and ends up slopping pigs, starving and now desperate.  A little self-pity too.  He goes back to his father who welcomes him with open arms.  End of story? No.  Beginning of recovery.  The Son hit bottom.  He is still self-centered.  His belly may get full, but his heart is still in need of much healing or rebuilding, or maybe even building for the first time.  This is AA.  It welcomes anyone who says they are done with their addiction.  Not drinking is no sobriety.  It only gives you enough clear-headedness to pick up the tools offered by the process of recovery and start to use them.   A spiritual practice starts with not wanting what you have, or your "old life."  You want a new life of meditation and becoming a better person, you have to work on it daily.  Maybe this blog helps a little.