The River Is Waiting

by Wally Lamb

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.

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

“ ‘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.”

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

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.”

having hope was never going to hurt me, but having unreasonable expectations could clobber me