“Pain is the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self.” Pain is what motivates us. Mother Teresa was motivated by the pain of those suffering around her. Martin Luther King Jr. was motivated by the pain he saw in the inequality of life based on skin color. The great spiritual teachers, Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Muhammad and others moved to act, often at the risk of their own lives, becoming selfless to address the spiritual, emotional and physical pain they witnessed in the world.

One of the central qualities they all shared: perseverance, they never stopped. Regardless of circumstance, fear or seeming failure, they persevered. So, just for today, when the voice of the true adversary, Fear, begins to whisper in our ear, cajoling us to reflect morbidly to stifle our growth as children of the Miraculous: we will take one more step, say one more prayer, help one more person and never stop, for we now know in our heart of hearts we are not alone, are growing day by day, sometimes quickly sometimes slowly, into amazing instruments of peace in demonstration, serenity in action.

Miracles Of Recovery

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Harmless Gossip?

Vigilance is the price for continued Spiritual Freedom. Drifting into negative thinking or speech typically happens without any conscious thought or plan on our part. Those “good” natured gossip sessions with a friend or joining in (or worse, instigating) a huddle at work complaining about a disagreeable co-worker or boss or worse taking sides in any romantic or marital dispute to simply speaking about someone for any reason where we would be embarrassed if we discovered they overheard us, demonstrates we have dropped our spiritual guard. If we are saying anything about anyone we would be unwilling to say to them in person, we place ourselves at risk. Gossiping and tale telling rarely (if ever) embodies the patience, tolerance, kindliness and love Living on the Spiritual Basis requires. As far as taking sides in romantic squabbles, we have all probably done this only to become the enemy upon their reconciliation, so through bitter experience we have learned to be supportive but avoid engaging in character assassination, no matter how seemingly egregious someone’s behavior appears to be. One of the great truths in life is that every story has two sides and when it comes to romance, they often only have a passing resemblance to one another.

So restraint of pen and tongue is not only a secular truth but a Spiritual axiom as well if we wish to be free.

Miracles Of Recovery

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Everything about us is connected, the within and the without. Every word, every action, every thought having significance,from the positive to the negative, touching everything and everyone. Consider still pond. Toss a pebble into the center and concentric rings from the disturbance begin emanating on the surface towards the shores of the pool.Observe carefully and you will see the rings rebound back from the shore at oblique angles, eventually touching even the seemingly obscured nooks and crannies of the pond’s shoreline. This is the observable part of the reaction,but what of that which happens beyond our sight? As our pebble falls through the water it continues to send out waves, reactions, though invisible to our eye but there nonetheless, eventually touching every part of the pond and every creature swimming in it.

The pebble’s effect reverberating through the pond is akin to the effect our thoughts, words and actions have in our lives and the world about us. What we are truly reverberates throughout the world, mostly unseen or consciously noticed, but the effect is there nonetheless. The analogy of “a butterfly flaps its wings in Africa and a drought happens in China” to suggest that the smallest actions can influence major change is illustrative.

Never doubt your importance or connection with the Miraculous. We are all children of the Most High, so regard yourself accordingly, asserting your true place in thought and deed,reaping the positive consequences of a life lived in purpose, a demonstration of Divine Love and understanding, for in so doing, all Heaven rejoices. Miracles Of Recovery.

Rejoicing Butterfly

Everything about us is connected, the within and the without. Every word, every action, every thought having significance, from the positive to the negative, touching everything and everyone. Consider a still pond. Toss a pebble into the center and concentric rings from the disturbance begin emanating on the surface towards the shores of the pool. Observe carefully and you will see the rings rebound back from the shore at oblique angles, eventually touching even the seemingly obscured nooks and crannies of the pond’s shoreline. This is the observable part of the reaction, but what of that which happens beyond our sight? As our pebble falls through the water it continues to send out waves, reactions, though invisible to our eye but there nonetheless, eventually touching every part of the pond and every creature swimming in it.

The pebble’s effect reverberating through the pond is akin to the effect our thoughts, words and actions have in our lives and the world about us. What we are truly reverberates throughout the world, mostly unseen or consciously noticed, but the effect is there nonetheless. The analogy of “a butterfly flaps its wings in Africa and a drought happens in China” to suggest that the smallest actions can influence major change is illustrative.

Never doubt your importance or connection with the Miraculous. We are all children of the Most High, so regard yourself accordingly, asserting your true place in thought and deed, reaping the positive consequences of a life lived in purpose, a demonstration of Divine Love and understanding, for in so doing, all Heaven rejoices.
Miracles Of Recovery


© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Fear Is A Bluffer

We all began this journey standing by the side of the road of Spiritual Awakening and destiny, deciding what to do. When we decide to Live on the Spiritual Basis we move from the shoulder and into the vehicle of our journey to freedom from the bondage of self. While standing on the shoulder we were rationalizing and justifying why we are putting off taking the trip, all the while watching vehicle after vehicle stop and pick up other travelers. Wishing to embark ourselves but fearful of what the journey will entail. Fear would keep us on the shoulder, a mustard seeds worth of faith gets us off it.

As with all travel, there are costs. The fare for this journey being willingness, action in purpose, open-mindedness and honesty. Faith the motive power of our vehicle. And though along the way we will come to know the Shining Cities on the Hill of peace, serenity and freedom there is no “final” destination, for our trip is never ending, always climbing to new heights of awareness and understanding in Spirit as long as we remain teachable. Our driver and guide? No less than the Miraculous, the very Creative Intelligence that lies at the heart of everything, providing all we need in good measure to make the journey. 
Yes, it will be a long and often strange trip but the only one that truly matters. Along the way the only real adversary, Fear, will keep cajoling us, suggesting, even screaming at us to disembark for we really shouldn’t trust the driver, we should climb out and sit by the side of the road “to think” about ourselves, morbid reflection ascendant. By resisting the adversary’s clarion call and trusting in God to guide us our freedom is assured, the sights and vistas along the way remarkable beyond words, our continued awakening in Spirit breathtaking, and if we remain diligent in the path we have chosen, Fears’ voice will become quieter and quieter for we now know the truth: Fear is a bluffer.
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© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Trudging the Road of Happy Destiny

We triumph over life’s inevitable challenges not by the exercise of willpower or brute force but by tapping into the power of the Infinite. Many paths lead to our ultimate awakening, and most begin with spiritual discomfort wrapped in fear. Sickness (our own or a loved ones), addiction, financial stress, a failed relationship and death (a loved one or contemplating our own) are all beginnings, for truly “the only instrument sharp enough to cut away the excess of self is pain.” The greatest gift we can give ourselves is a foundation in faith before these assaults on our serenity begin. The pain and discomfort of dealing with the ultimate questions of living will not be avoided, but we will have a clear-cut set of directions to follow out of the wilderness to peace of mind and heart.

To follow this path we must set aside our preconceived ideas and don a new pair of glasses and “Become quick to see where spiritual people are right and make use of what they offer.” Laying aside our prejudices we listen and learn with our heart, for in the end, isn’t finding a way out more important than who provides it? If you were drowning and a rope appeared before seizing it would you first question who held it? So, we put aside any lingering prejudice against any spiritual path and make use of what they have to offer, taking what we need at this time and leaving the rest (remember, this selfishness is God inspired and is part of our growth) and join them in “trudging the road of happy destiny.”  
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© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Extravagant Promises? No.

The promises from Living on the Spiritual Basis are pearls beyond price: “We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past or wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace…That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear…Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us…When we look back, we realize that the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God’s hands were better than anything we could have planned…As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His Presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn.”

        “Are these extravagant promises? We think not…They will always materialize if we work for them” (Alcoholics Anonymous).

If this and more is promised to those suffering from addiction, could you expect anything less in your life? Place your will and life into the hands of the Miraculous and this and so much more is yours, for it is the Promise and God keeps all His promises.

Miracles Of Recovery


© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

When things are going well there is a natural tendency to slack off a touch, even in our spiritual work. The sun is shining, the clouds decorating a peaceful sky, perfect for watching lying on a soft bed of grass, peace immanent. Life is good. Though we do and should enjoy these times we must remain wary of complacency. Like the athlete who trains daily for occasional competitions, we pray and meditate daily to keep our connection to the Miraculous fresh and open for the inevitable storms that come to every life. Living on the Spiritual Basis we now understand the rain falls on the just and the unjust equally, not as punishment or Karma, but as opportunities to grow beyond limitation. Living on the new basis, the Spiritual Basis, today when a storm comes, we gently step back into the shelter of Spiritual Truth,out of the wind and rain, continuing to pray and meditate until the storm passes and peace returns. Having embraced eternity we now understand the truth of being, that behind every cloud, the sun still shines, and every storm brings the ingredients for growth and an opportunity to demonstrate faith and trust in a Power Greater Than Ourselves.

Miracles Of Recovery