Father Leo’s

ART

“There is no must in art because it is free.”

–Vasily Kandinsky

Now I understand why the religious people of the past persecuted the artist. Now I understand why so many artists moved away from religion and grew beyond it. The artist is always searching for that which is different, that which cannot be contained or codified; that which is free: Spirituality. As a drinking alcoholic I found it necessary to control my life; control my thoughts and behavior; control each and every situation — and it was depressingly exhausting. Today sobriety enables me to risk that which is new and different. Sobriety allows me to experiment and take risks in God’s world. Sobriety is being free. I am discovering more of me in what yesterday’s artists wrote and produced. The “musts” of yesterday have been replaced by the shoulds and needs today. I am free to listen and consider the person because he is a person and not simply because of his credentials.

Supreme Artist, let me hear You in the whisperings of Your creatures.

Father Leo’s May 21 2026

ART

“Art flourishes where there is a sense of adventure.”

–A. N. Whitehead

Today I enjoy and am sustained by the adventure of life. The
adventure of living. The adventure of living my life. For years I spent
my time avoiding situations, avoiding people, avoiding me. Now in my
daily recovery I need to participate and experience my spiritual
energy. I want to meet new people. I want to travel. I want to work
productively and earn money. I want to add something to this beautiful
world.

I am discovering in my recovery that experiencing my creative
spirituality makes me an artist. God is found in the hugs I give and the
early morning “hellos” I shout to strangers. Today I am not afraid
anymore. Today I am alive.

God, may I seek and find You in the small and mundane things of life;
let me find You where I am.

FR. LEO'S DAILY MEDITATION #essentialsofrecovery

ART

“Only work which is the product of inner compulsion can Have spiritual meaning.”

~ Walter Gropius ~

I have developed, in my recovery, an awareness of the beauty of this world and an appreciation of what people can produce. Sobriety has made art accessible. Today I see beauty in paintings, sculpture, music, literature, and the art of nature.

Spirituality is always creative; it is at the center of all that is good, noble, and inspiring. Although I may not be an artist, I appreciate and have a feeling of belonging to the beauty of this world. In a sense, it all happens and takes shape through me. The rediscovery of spirituality has brought the world and the universe into my life.

Give me the desire to re-create Your splendor through my experiences. 

© 2008 Leo Booth 

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Today’s Gift #essentialsofrec

Isn’t it great life is open-ended!

—Brigitte Frase

Elizabeth Lawton, known as “Grandma Layton,” is an American artist who never drew a picture until she was sixty-eight years old. She spent all the years before that time trying to cope with depression. She had gone through therapy, medications, and shock treatment and continued to be severely depressed. But then she signed up for an art class and the act of drawing cured her depression. She continues to make fabulous pictures.

What does she think about the critical acclaim her artwork has received? She says she wants others to know about her art so it may give hope to those who have also “suffered from feelings.”

Many of us have suffered from feelings. We must remember that we can each turn to our creativity – at any age – as a source for our well-being. All we need to do is have faith in the potential goodness within ourselves and those we love.

What creative activity can I look to for comfort today? 

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FR. LEO'S DAILY MEDITATION #essentialsofrec #Art #FrLeo

ART

“Only work which is the product of inner compulsion can Have spiritual meaning.”

~ Walter Gropius 

I have developed, in my recovery, an awareness of the beauty of this world and an appreciation of what people can produce. Sobriety has made art accessible. Today I see beauty in paintings, sculpture, music, literature, and the art of nature.

Spirituality is always creative; it is at the center of all that is good, noble, and inspiring. Although I may not be an artist, I appreciate and have a feeling of belonging to the beauty of this world. In a sense, it all happens and takes shape through me. The rediscovery of spirituality has brought the world and the universe into my life.

Give me the desire to re-create Your splendor through my experiences. 

© 2008 Leo Booth

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

ART

“Art flourishes where there is a sense of adventure.”

–A. N. Whitehead

Today I enjoy and am sustained by the adventure of life. The
adventure of living. The adventure of living my life. For years I spent
my time avoiding situations, avoiding people, avoiding me. Now in my
daily recovery I need to participate and experience my spiritual
energy. I want to meet new people. I want to travel. I want to work
productively and earn money. I want to add something to this beautiful
world.

I am discovering in my recovery that experiencing my creative
spirituality makes me an artist. God is found in the hugs I give and the
early morning “hellos” I shout to strangers. Today I am not afraid
anymore. Today I am alive.

God, may I seek and find You in the small and mundane things of life;
let me find You where I am. 

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

 ART


“Only work which is the product of inner compulsion can have spiritual meaning.”
— Walter Gropius

I have developed, in my recovery, an awareness of the beauty of this world and an appreciation of what man can produce. Sobriety has made art accessible. Today I can see beauty in paintings, sculpture, music, literature and the natural “art” of nature.

Spirituality is always creative and it is at the center of all that is good, noble and inspiring. Although I am not an artist, I can appreciate and have a feeling of “belonging” to the beauty of this world — in a sense it all happens and takes shape through me. The rediscovery of spirituality has brought the world and the universe into my life.

Help me to have the desire to recreate Your splendors through my experiences.

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsfrecovery

ART


“There is no must in art because it is free.”

–Vasily Kandinsky

Now I understand why the religious people of the past persecuted the artist. Now I understand why so many artists moved away from religion and grew beyond it. The artist is always searching for that which is different, that which cannot be contained or codified; that which is free: Spirituality. As a drinking alcoholic I found it necessary to control my life; control my thoughts and behavior; control each and every situation — and it was depressingly exhausting. Today sobriety enables me to risk that which is new and different. Sobriety allows me to experiment and take risks in God’s world. Sobriety is being free. I am discovering more of me in what yesterday’s artists wrote and produced. The “musts” of yesterday have been replaced by the shoulds and needs today. I am free to listen and consider the person because he is a person and not simply because of his credentials.

Supreme Artist, let me hear You in the whisperings of Your creatures. 

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

KEEP IT SIMPLE #essentialsofrecovery

Every child is an artist. The problem is remain an artist once your grow up.

~ Pablo Picasso 

We each have colorful ideas waiting to be shared. We’re alive inside. But do we let this side of us show? Our disease stole much of the child like openness. Many of us were taught that growing up meant denying the child within us. Many of us grew up in homes where it wasn’t safe to act alive and creative. Whatever the reason, it’s time to claim the child, the artist, in each of us. Each of our programs is different, and each has its artistic touch. When we tell our stories, we share our life. And our lives are unique and alive. The more alive we become, the more color we bring to others and ourselves. Let’s not be afraid to add color to our lives.

Prayer for the Day

Higher Power, help me claim the child inside of me. Joy is choice. Help me choose it.

Action for the Day

Today, I’ll work at not hiding myself from others. I’ll be alive, and I’ll greet everyone I meet with the openness of a child.

Copyright © 1988 by Hazelden Foundation 

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Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrecovery

ART

“Art is not a thing; it is a way.”

– Elbert Hubbard

In the spiritual twelve-step program it talks about “…a God as you understand Him.”  This is a liberating concept that teaches us to risk and think “big”. God is not only found in churches, temples and rituals — God can be found in the myriad of art forms. God is always to be found in the creative. Because art is always concerned with life and truth, God is always involved.

Today I am able to look for God in His or Her World.

In my recovery from the disease of addiction, I need to discover the wonder and splendor of life that got damaged in my drinking days. Art can help me to feel again. It helps me to think and be concerned again. Art teaches me to be involved in life.

Thank You for the artist — another aspect of priesthood. 

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrecovery

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #FrLeo #Art

ART

“There is no must in art because it is free.”
–Vasily Kandinsky

Now I understand why the religious people of the past persecuted the artist. Now I understand why so many artists moved away from religion and grew beyond it. The artist is always searching for that which is different, that which cannot be contained or codified; that which is free: Spirituality. As a drinking alcoholic I found it necessary to control my life; control my thoughts and behavior; control each and every situation — and it was depressingly exhausting. Today sobriety enables me to risk that which is new and different. Sobriety allows me to experiment and take risks in God’s world. Sobriety is being free. I am discovering more of me in what yesterday’s artists wrote and produced. The “musts” of yesterday have been replaced by the shoulds and needs today. I am free to listen and consider the person because he is a person and not simply because of his credentials.

Supreme Artist, let me hear You in the whisperings of Your creatures. 

Why not sign up to get emails with all daily posts included?
Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Keep It Simple #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Art #Living

17
October


Every child is an artist. The problem is remain an artist once your grow up.

—Pablo Picasso

We each have colorful ideas waiting to be shared. We’re alive inside. But do we let this side of us show? Our disease stole much of the child like openness. Many of us were taught that growing up meant denying the child within us. Many of us grew up in homes where it wasn’t safe to act alive and creative. Whatever the reason, it’s time to claim the child, the artist, in each of us. Each of our programs is different, and each has its artistic touch. When we tell our stories, we share our life. And our lives are unique and alive. The more alive we become, the more color we bring to others and ourselves. Let’s not be afraid to add color to our lives.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me claim the child inside of me. Joy is choice. Help me choose it.

Action for the Day: Today, I’ll work at not hiding myself from others. I’ll be alive, and I’ll greet everyone I meet with the openness of a child.

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Father Leo’s Daily Meditation #essentialsofrec #art #Frleo

11
October
ART


“Art is not a thing; it is a way.”

– Elbert Hubbard

In the spiritual twelve-step program it talks about “…a God as you understand Him.” This is a liberating concept that teaches us to risk and think “big”. God is not only found in churches, temples and rituals — God can be found in the myriad of art forms. God is always to be found in the creative. Because art is always concerned with life and truth, God is always involved.

Today I am able to look for God in His or Her World.

In my recovery from the disease of addiction I need to discover the wonder and splendor of life that got damaged in my drinking days. Art can help me to feel again. It helps me to think and be concerned again. Art teaches me to be involved in life.

Thank You for the artist — another aspect of priesthood.

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Or Follow Us On Twitter #essentialsofrec

Today’s Gift from Hazelden #essentialsofrec #Recovery #Life

 28
September

All the arts we practice are apprenticeship. The big art is our life.

— M. C. Richards

What you do for a living is not who you are. You are more, much more, than that.

It’s easy to get so caught up in what we do that we’re only identifying ourselves through our daily tasks. I am a mechanic. I am a parking lot attendant. I am a doctor. I am a dishwasher. When we link ourselves too closely to our jobs, we deny ourselves the chance to ever be anything else.

God gave us the power to change. You’re more than what you do. You’re a vital vibrant soul that came here to experience, grow, and change. Make a masterpiece out of your life.

God, help me realize the glory of my soul. Thank you for my mortality and for the ability to learn and grow.

From the book:

More Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie

More Language of Letting Go © 2000 by Melody Beattie

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