Grace. I thought I knew what that word meant. After all, I had heard it mentioned in that old hymn since I was a child. However, I can’t say I had even a nodding acquaintance with its meaning for many years. You see, as an alcoholic, most of my waking hours were spent...

I have made many promises over my lifetime. Some were spoken out loud, given with conviction. Others were quiet—made in my head, in moments of clarity when I swore I would change. I promised my parents I would do better. I promised I would straighten out my life. I...

In recovery circles it’s common to hear people speak of spiritual awakenings. This simply refers to a change in personality profound enough to make recovery from alcoholism possible—and I’ve seen that change show up in many different ways. For some, these are...