No One Denied Me Love

The Daily Reflections for March 31 was titled "No One Denied Me Love." As I reflected on the message, I realized that for the greater part of my life since recovery, this is unquestionably true.

Back in 1988, by reaching out for help, I was accepted as a person of value. The members of Alcoholics Anonymous did not question my sexual orientation, employment status, or legal standing. They only wanted me to come back and join them in the joy they had found.

Two AA phrases come immediately to mind:

“Love and tolerance of others is our code.” – Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book), p. 84“We are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful.” – Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book), p. 17

As I accepted the love and genuine care I found in the rooms of AA, I was able to use the strength of that feeling to change my life and to extend the same love to others.

Love Through the Lens of Scholars and Great Thinkers

Much has been said by scholars and great thinkers about the power of extending love to others. Here are some thoughts contributing to the idea of "No One Denied Love":

“The only thing we never get enough of is love; and the only thing we never give enough of is love.” — Henry Miller“A loving heart is the truest wisdom.” — Charles Dickens“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” — Martin Luther King Jr.“To love another person is to see the face of God.” — Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

I could leave the conversation here, yet sobriety is not my only growth over the years. A deep sense of spirituality has also brought power to No One Denied Me Love. To the above thoughts, I now add a formalized faith-driven response.

Love Through the Lens of Faith

From The Bible:

Romans 8:38-39“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1 John 4:7-8“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

From The Book of Mormon:

2 Nephi 26:33“He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”

Moroni 7:47-48“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love.”

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”

A Final Thought from Jeffrey R. Holland:

“However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made … or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love.”— Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Laborers in the Vineyard,” April 2012 General Conference

A Personal Truth: I put forward my truth that the love found in AA, the wisdom of scholars, and the unwavering embrace of faith have beautifully shaped me into the person I am today. No one denied me love, and now I strive to ensure that no one else is denied love either.

Listening to Voices of Silence

In Journey of the Heart today, the lead-in phrase was "Who or What Is Pulling on You?" I related deeply to this, as over the past week, I have received silent messages prompting me to reconnect with family and friends.

Since becoming sober, I have noticed that these silent messages carry a power of their own. The act of "listening" to these 'voices of silence' can be understood as a process of letting go—releasing the internal noise, obsessive thoughts, and self-destructive chatter that often cloud our ability to connect with a deeper, healing stillness. In the quiet, we engage in self-reflection, humility, and true listening—where individuals confront their inner struggles, acknowledge their emotions, and ultimately find peace through surrender.

Bill Wilson captured this idea beautifully when he wrote: “We found the Great Reality deep down within us. In the last analysis, it was only there that He may be found.” (AA Big Book, p. 55) True wisdom, as Wilson suggests, is not found in endless speaking but in looking inward with silence.

The Timeless Wisdom of Silence

There are many sources beyond AA that recognize the profound power of silence. Across cultures and philosophies, silence has been seen as a gateway to wisdom and inner peace. Here are a few perspectives:

Ancient Wisdom on Silence

• “Silence is a source of great strength.” — Tao Te Ching

• “He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know.” — Tao Te Ching

• “When the mouth is silent, the mind speaks; when the mind is silent, the soul speaks.” — Buddhist Teachings

• “Do not speak unless it improves upon the silence.” — Buddhist Teachings

Religious and Spiritual Teachings

• “He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words.” — Elbert Hubbard

• “Silence is the language of God. All else is poor translation.” — Rumi (Sufi Mysticism)

• “God’s first language is silence.” — St. John of the Cross

• “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

• “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” — Proverbs 17:28

LDS Teachings on Silence

• “We need quiet time to recognize promptings of the Spirit. It is in the moments of quiet reflection that personal revelation comes.” — Elder Richard G. Scott, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance," General Conference, October 2009

• “In moments of silence, we hear promptings that shape our souls and guide our footsteps along the path of righteousness.” — President David O. McKay

The Power of Embracing Silence

Silence is not emptiness—it is a space where the most profound truths reveal themselves. Whether in personal reflection, spiritual practice, or recovery, learning to embrace stillness can open the door to clarity, wisdom, and inner peace. When we listen—truly listen—to the voices of silence, we may find that they carry the guidance we have been seeking all along.

The Light of Truth

In pursuing thoughts on truth and non-truth, I came across a compelling quote from Plato’s Republic:

"And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take refuge in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be clearer than what is now being shown to him?" (Republic 516a)

This quote struck a chord with me, as there was a time when the idea of turning to a higher power for help seemed as absurd as planning my future based on a fortune cookie. I preferred the darkness of denial.

Plato's allegory describes a prisoner who has been kept in darkness. When he is finally freed and exposed to sunlight, he initially resists, believing that what he sees cannot be real. This resistance to truth and enlightenment is a common experience, especially for those struggling with addiction or personal transformation.

A similar thought appears in Alcoholics Anonymous:

"Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us.""See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others."

Only a sliver of light is necessary to show the way.

Jean-Paul Sartre echoes this sentiment in Beyond Good and Evil (1886):

"Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed."

This resistance to truth, however, is not a sign of failure but a necessary struggle on the path to enlightenment. In Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (p. 21), we find:

"We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward liberation and strength. Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built."

Philosophical and Literary Support for Light Over Darkness

    Aristotle: "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."

    Seneca: "Even in the darkest night, a single candle can defy and define the darkness."

    Immanuel Kant: "Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity."

    C.S. Lewis: "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

    J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings): "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future."

Religious Perspectives on Moving from Darkness to Light

Old Testament

Psalm 119:105 – "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

    Malachi 4:2 – "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings."

New Testament

    Matthew 5:14-16 – "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

    Ephesians 5:8 – "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."

    2 Corinthians 4:6 – "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

    2 Nephi 2:11 (Book of Mormon) – "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad."

    Doctrine and Covenants 50:24 – "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day."

    President Thomas S. Monson – "The pathway of life can be difficult. The way back to our Heavenly Father is not easy, but the light of Christ will show us the way."

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland – "Because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path."

Conclusion
All of these scriptures, philosophical insights, and literary perspectives emphasize the same truth: moving toward the light—whether through faith, righteousness, or divine guidance—brings peace, understanding, joy, and eternal reward. Whether in the struggles of addiction, personal growth, or the pursuit of wisdom, the transition from darkness to light is the foundation of transformation. May we all continue to seek the light, trusting that even a small candle can illuminate the path ahead.

Vulnerability and Healing

I was drawn to a topic today while meditating.  I found  the topic on the website https://tinybuddha.com/     

The quote that caught my attention was by Jake Woodward:  

“Instead of avoiding your pain, work through it. Instead of withholding your tears, let them flow. Instead of closing your heart, open it. Instead of expressing hate, show love. Instead of judging another, appreciate them. Instead of being uptight and serious, be playful. Instead of fearing the unknown, move into it.” --   

In the quote Woodward is reflecting how being vulnerable is potentially a path to real strength.   

  

My experience in recovery and in life teaches me that being vulnerable is associated with openness, honesty, and the willingness to be seen as we truly are.  

  

Vulnerable In Recovery 

AA emphasizes honesty and openness as vital to recovery, which inherently requires vulnerability.  Starting with step 1: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.”  

We are asked to acknowledgment of our weakness and  surrender.  The surrender an act of vulnerability. 

Then we are told that  “We are only as sick as our secrets.” (AA saying) and by  Holding onto shame and hiding our struggles keeps us trapped. Vulnerability allows healing and connection. 

 

 AA encourages reliance on others and on a Higher Power, rejecting self-sufficiency as a false strength.   

 “The greatest gift we can give ourselves is the permission to be vulnerable and ask for help.” 

 

Building on the AA program there are others supporting the need for vulnerabiltiy. 

Examples: 

Brené Brown (Researcher on Shame & Vulnerability) 

• “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”  

• “Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.” 

C.S. Lewis  

•  “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.” (The Four Loves)   

 Søren Kierkegaard   

•  Vulnerability requires risk, but without it, we remain stagnant and disconnected.  

•  “To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.”    

 

Likewise the scriptures and theologens put forward. 

 2 Corinthians 12:9-10  

 “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  

 Here, Paul acknowledges that vulnerability (weakness) allows God’s power to work through us.  

 Psalm 34:18  

 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”  

 God is especially close to those who acknowledge their struggles.  

James 5:16  

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”  

Healing comes through openness and confession, not hiding our struggles.  

 Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  

 “Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet in part because pure Christlike love comes with the ability to be vulnerable.” (Conference Address, 2018)  

 Love and vulnerability go hand in hand, as Christ’s love requires an open heart.  

 President Russell M. Nelson  

 “God has a work for each of you to do. But in order to accomplish it, you must be able to hear His voice. And in order to hear His voice, you must be vulnerable enough to seek Him.”  

 Seeking divine guidance requires humility and openness.  

 Ether 12:27 (Book of Mormon)  

 “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness... my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me.”  

 Acknowledging weakness is a step toward receiving divine grace.  

Mosiah 18:8-9  

“Willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light.”  

A community of believers must be open about struggles to truly support one another.  

  

Final Thoughts  

Vulnerability is a paradox—it feels risky, but it is the foundation of strength. AA teaches that admitting powerlessness is the first step to recovery. Scholars highlight vulnerability as the key to connection and growth. The Bible and LDS teachings emphasize that weakness allows God's strength to manifest in our lives. When we embrace vulnerability, we find deeper relationships, greater courage, and a pathway to divine grace.