"The Gratitude Element caused me to think about synchronicity and watching for God in other people. At some point in my prayer, I had already managed to pair gratitude with the Jesus Prayer. I had read ‘The Way of the Pilgrim’ and it led me to the Philokalia. I’m not sure how gratitude entered in. I may have tired of trying to tell God what to do.
The real eye-opener with your book was realizing a broader application of the Serenity Prayer and the recovery process (I had too narrowly associated it with substance addiction). Although, I did read ‘the life changing magic of tidying up, the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing’ by Marie Kondo, which forced me to consider the value I placed on possessions. Well, like Brene Brown says, ‘once you see a pattern, you can’t un-see it”.
So I was browsing the bible section in a bookstore and encountered ‘Serenity, a companion for twelve step recovery (NKJV)' and remembered that I’ve been meaning to acknowledge your book. Thank you!
Instead of the NKJV, I walked out with Thich Nhat Hanh’s 'Living Budda, Living Christ.’ But I am going to research recovery resources to help me recognize and resolve other cases of unproductive thinking."
Andy Peterson- Minneapolis
“A lucid and elegant presentation that give a new dimension to the Serenity Prayer.” Michael Pearlman, MD, psychiatrist – Boston Massachusetts
“For me, Mark brings Gestalt to the Serenity Prayer with the addition of gratitude. With the inclusion of gratitude, Mark brings heart to the Serenity Prayer.” Phil Biesanz – Forest Lake MN
“A thought-provoking guide – essential and useful for an Twelve Step group, spirituality group, or wisdom study group.” Jon Schwabach, PhD, psychotherapist – Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
“This book demonstrates Mark’s gift for presenting something simply without simplifying it.” Dick Rice, retired director of spiritual care, the Retreat – Wayzata, MN