PAY IT FORWARD
Help Others Find Hope
Thank you for being here. You’ve likely encountered “My Higher Power: How Science, History, and Recovery Led Me to a Faith That Makes Sense,” a book born from my own harrowing journey through addiction, despair, and ultimately, into a faith that resonates with both heart and mind. This isn’t just a collection of words on a page; it’s a lifeline, a map forged in the fires of personal experience, and a testament to the enduring power of hope.
Now, we have a mission that extends beyond the digital realm: to place physical copies of this book into the hands of those who are walking a similar path of recovery, those who are currently navigating the challenging terrain of addiction, homelessness, or incarceration – individuals who, like I once did, may feel lost, broken, and desperately searching for a higher power that makes sense in a world that often doesn’t.
The “Free or Donate” Pre-Release
We’re offering “My Higher Power” as a pre-release download. You can access the full digital manuscript completely FREE of charge. My deepest desire is for these ideas – the reconciliation of science and faith, the deconstruction of harmful dogma, and the discovery of a compassionate, intellectually honest spirituality – to reach as many people as possible.
However, if this book resonates with you, if its message touches your heart or sparks a new perspective, we invite you to consider a suggested donation of $6.
Why $6? Because every $6 donation allows us to print and distribute TWO physical copies of “My HigherPower.”
Our Goal: 1,000 Books, 1,000 Sparks of Hope
1,000 Sparks of Hope
Our immediate goal is to raise enough funds to print an initial run of 1,000 books. These books will be given, free of charge, to individuals in:
Recovery programs and rehabilitation centers
Sober living homes
Homeless shelters
County jails and correctional facilities
These are the very places where my own transformation began. As I detail in the book, it was in the stark reality of detox, the humbling environment of the Salvation Army, the confines of county jail during a pandemic, and the structured support of rehab and sober living that the seeds of this book were sown. It was in these places, often with limited access to resources but an abundance of time for reflection, that I encountered the texts, the ideas, and the human connections that helped me rebuild my life and my faith.
Our Mission
As I wrote in Chapter 1, “Addiction, you see, has a way of stripping you bare, of burning away all the comfortable illusions and forcing you to confront the void – and it was in that void that the first, tentative questions about something more began to stir.” Many individuals in recovery are standing in that void right now. They are wrestling with profound questions, battling shame, and desperately seeking a path forward.
“My Higher Power” speaks directly to their experience. It doesn’t offer platitudes or easy answers. Instead, it shares:
A Story of Relatability: My journey through the “wreckage” of addiction, the “catastrophic crash” of hitting rock bottom, and the “brutal, protracted battle” for sobriety is one that many will recognize. Knowing they are not alone in their struggles can be incredibly powerful.
A Path Beyond Dogma: Many, like me, have been alienated by rigid, judgmental forms of religion. This book explores a faith that embraces critical thinking, historical honesty, and intellectual integrity. It shows how “faith and science don’t have to be enemies” but can be “two different languages trying to describe the same ineffable reality.”
An Accessible Higher Power: The core of the 12-step program is finding a Higher Power. For those who have been burned by traditional religion or struggle with conventional concepts of God, this book offers new perspectives, drawing from quantum physics, cosmology, and a more nuanced understanding of theological concepts to present a “God of infinite potential, a God whose consciousness may be the very ground of reality, a God who invites participation.”
Practical Wisdom: The book delves into the “beyond-its-time practical genius of biblical instructions,” reframing ancient wisdom in a way that is relevant and life-affirming, separate from the legalism that often obscures it.
Hope and Transformation: Ultimately, “My Higher Power” is a story of hope. It demonstrates that transformation is possible, that even from the deepest darkness, light can emerge, and that a meaningful, fulfilling life in recovery, grounded in a faith that makes sense, is attainable.
I remember being in jail, with “nothing but vast, empty stretches of time and, surprisingly, a rather eclectic collection of religious books and materials.” Those books were lifelines. They were windows to other worlds, catalysts for thought, and companions in solitude. A physical book can be a powerful tool in an environment where digital access is limited or non-existent. It can be read and re-read, pondered over, and its pages can become a tangible source of comfort and inspiration.
As I learned from my sponsor Miles, “Your brain, your thinking, got you here… Try listening for a change instead of thinking so damn much all the time.” This book encourages that deeper listening – to science, to history, to personal experience, and to the quiet whispers of a Higher Power.
Join Us in This Mission
This isn’t just my mission; it’s ours. If you believe in the power of hope, the importance of recovery, and the value of a faith that embraces both heart and mind, I ask you to join us.