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Dear Reader
Today I was reflecting on the many friends I’ve been blessed with. Some of these friendships began in college and have endured to this day. Others I’ve found over the past 36 years in recovery.
Searching for a poetic phrase to capture the meaning of these friendships—spanning decades and seasons of life—I came across a line by William Butler Yeats:
“Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,
And say my glory was I had such friends.”
As I meditated on this legacy of friendship, I found myself contemplating what makes these relationships so meaningful. It’s this: that we have shared experiences, common interests, and renewed strength born from overcoming life’s challenges—together.
In recovery, we have found freedom from addiction and alcohol over time. As the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says:
“We are like the passengers of a great liner the moment after rescue from shipwreck when camaraderie, joyousness and democracy pervade the vessel from steerage to Captain's table.”
Fred T.—my drinking buddy and fraternity brother—preceded me into recovery by about six years. He was there for me on the day I needed and sought help. That bond of rescue and restoration is one of many sacred moments in our shared history.
Together, we have embraced self-examination—a principle central not only to recovery but also to ancient wisdom. As Socrates said:
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
These friends have discovered a spiritual way of life—rooted in service, community, and connection to something greater than themselves. You might call it soul-work. They are good humans who accept the brotherhood of all mankind. They demonstrate a faith grounded in the good of both Heaven and Earth.
Their daily lives quietly reflect the truth of Psalm 8:
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? ... Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.”
— Psalm 8:4–5
They seek neither pride, escape, nor control. Instead, they live with honesty, service, and grace. When Yeats says, “my glory was I had such friends,” it beautifully echoes the words of Christ when He said to His disciples:
“I no longer call you servants … but friends.”
— John 15:15
🔷 Closing Reflection: Yeats, Today, and the Glory of God
In an age of isolation and curated digital lives, the reminder that true glory lies in friendship and faith is both timely and revolutionary.
I am deeply grateful for the honor of having such friends. Their presence in my life is a testament to God’s grace.
Let us remember: human glory begins and ends not in accomplishments, but in relationships—those gifted to us by our Heavenly Father, and modeled perfectly by Jesus Christ, who calls us His friends.
Good morning.
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