Pat R. at the Deerfield Beach Study Group – 2021

About This Speaker Tape

Deerfield Beach Study Group - 2021

A misplaced chunk of cash triggers a spiritual reckoning for Pat R. who finds himself on his knees in the Everglades only to realize he'd stolen $400 from a stranger forty years prior. This moment of clarity leads to a series of unexpected collisions: a phone call with an old friend Dave reveals that a police officer Pat once targeted in a violent outburst—destroying the man's car—was actually Dave's uncle. Pat grapples with the wreckage of a life spent as a 'taker,' reflecting on the shift from the darkness of assault and battery charges to a life of 'divine dissatisfaction.' He describes the transformation from needing the fellowship to wanting to be part of it and finally realizing he is chosen to help others. He balances the grit of his past—living in his mother's back room with restraining orders—against a current state of contentment that persists even in the middle of brutal Florida traffic.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Pat R. opens with his recovery statement and discusses the difference between the 'source' and the 'resources'.
• 4:30 Story about misplacing money and the subsequent spiritual prompt in the Everglades.
• 7:15 Discussion of the 9th Step and making indirect amends through homeless funds.
• 9:40 The revelation that the cop whose car he destroyed was Dave's uncle.
• 14:20 Reflection on the 'dark to light' transformation and the role of the Big Book.
• 18:10 Discussion of the 4th Step and shifting the angle of perception regarding those who harmed him.
• 22:40 Pat describes his spiritual awakening after the 5th Step and his relationship with a Higher Power.
• 27:10 Laughter: Story about the 'divine dissatisfaction' and the struggle to stay content.
• 31:50 Discussion of the 12-step call and the requirements for a spiritual experience.
• 35:20 Closing thoughts on the 'life beyond wildest dreams' and a quote from Winston C.