Introducing the Happy Road of Destiny

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Hello. This blog will be focusing on spirituality and twelve step recovery. The title, "Trudging the Happy Road of Destiny," comes from a quote in Alcoholics Anonymous (Anonymous, 2001, p. 164):

"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God....We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. May God bless you and keep you---until then."

Those words set the tone for the purpose of this blog: to help both the author and readers search for a God of our understanding, to seek a spiritual path in our day-to-day lives, to share God's love and understanding as we follow the path, to join others in "the great spiritual journey," and to realize we are "trudging the happy road of destiny." Recovery from addictions will often be emphasized. However, it is my intent for the blog's contents to give all readers encouragement and support for seeking and following a spiritual path.

I do not consider myself an expert in spiritual matters. I am a novice. I am learning. I am excited about what I am learning, and I want to share some of my excitement with you. I have been a recovering alcoholic for over 32 years. Thankfully, in this past decade or so I have focused on "feeding my soul" and nurturing the spiritual part of my recovery journey. Focusing on spiritual matters does not mean sobriety is no longer important to me; it does mean I need and strive to maintain a strong spiritual foundation to live my life as I am meant to live it ---as a sober person carrying the message of God's love to others by my actions and with my words.

It is important to emphasize, too, that a spiritual path does not always feel "happy"---it can be challenging, overwhelming, scary, demanding----or even numbing. Hence, the term "trudging." I wish I could post an "Incident Avoidance Route" highway sign on the pathway and promise you would avoid experiencing any unpleasant incidences in the future, but I cannot.

Overall, though, my experiences on this spiritual adventure can be best described in a single word: "Awesome!" A spiritual journey is awesome, as in burning bush awesome. You and I may never encounter a burning bush, but it is my hope we have and will continue to have those special, quiet moments when we know God is with us and acting in our lives.

Please note discussions in this blog is will reflect only the author's opinion. I do not expect others to share or even agree with my ideas. As the author of this blog, I am calling myself "evolving elder"---an alias which indicates I am a work in progress, someone who is learning and evolving and not an expert or one who has the "only truth." Yes, I have personal experience with recovery, I worked professionally with recovering people for decades before I retired, I have published a book and numerous articles with a recovery theme, and I have taught in universities in three different states. However, in this blog, I am me, an evolving work in progress trying to follow a spiritual path and to share my thoughts as I "trudge the happy road of destiny."

I hope you will read and share ideas with me as we trudge the happy road of destiny. May God bless and keep you.