The River Is Waiting

by Wally Lamb

Suffering comes to us as an interrogator. It asks, “Who are you?”

It’s the same kind of grief I felt after my brother Warren got killed in Vietnam. I’ll be okay for a while. Then it clobbers you like a wave you didn’t see coming. Crashes into you and pulls you under so that, for a few seconds, you can’t breathe.”

When you’re an active alcoholic, you give up everything for one thing. But when you commit to sobriety, you give up one thing for everything.

“Day at a time, my friend. You can always drink tomorrow if you need to. Just don’t drink today.

you don’t have to believe as long as you believe that I believe.’ ”

“Based on the five senses. You concentrate on five things you can see. A calendar, for example. A photograph. Then four things you can touch or feel: your shoe, a book, anything within reach. Then three things you hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. What you are doing is giving your mind something to do other than surrender to the terror.”

‘Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength—carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.’—Corrie ten Boom.”

“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”

Having hope is kind of like praying. Like asking God for something and hoping He’ll hear you. But if you have an expectation, it’s more like a demand than a prayer. Like you’re saying, here’s what I expect, God, so make it happen for me. See? Like you’re the one who gets to give the orders.”