The Serenity Prayer in 12-Step Recovery

The Serenity Prayer in 12-Step Recovery Addiction Coping and Recovery Methods and Support Print The Significance of the Serenity Prayer in 12-Step Recovery By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Updated on December 11, 2019 Tom Merton / Getty Images More in Addiction Coping and Recovery Methods and Support Overcoming Addiction Personal Stories Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Brilliant in its simplicity, the Serenity Prayer is one of the key spiritual tools used by virtually all 12-step recovery support groups. The following is the adaptation thats generally used in these groups: God, grant me the serenityTo accept the things I cannot change;Courage to change the things I can;and wisdom to know the difference. Significance of the AA Serenity Prayer Sometimes referred to as the AA acceptance prayer, the Serenity Prayer is usually recited at the beginning of almost all 12-step group meetings, and, at many meetings, at the end as well. Examples of these 12-step groups include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Al-Anon/Alateen, and Marijuana Anonymous, among dozens of others. It has also become a part of mainstream culture, finding its way into movies, books, memes, and home decorations. For so many people in desperate situationsâ€"seeking peace, strength, and wisdomâ€"these simple words, whispered to a God as they understand him, have seen them through their darkest hours. They have come to believe that the qualities expressed in the prayer can come only from a power greater than themselves. And because they believe, they find the serenity, courage, and wisdom they seek from somewhere outside themselves to face another situation, another step, and another day. History Although millions of people both in and out of the recovery community have been helped and strengthened by the Serenity Prayers simple lines, few are aware the first stanza was written by Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr. He was an American theologian, philosopher, and longtime dean and professor of Applied Christianity at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. There has been much controversy over when and by whom the Serenity Prayer was penned, but it looks like the debate is over. Though Reinhold Niebuhr is now undisputedly the author, its unclear exactly when he wrote the well-known and beloved prayer, but it seems to have been around 1933. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) adopted the prayer in 1941 when an AA member saw it in The New York Tribune and asked the AA secretary at the time, Ruth Hock, to see if it could be printed in distributable cards. She wrote to an AA member who was a printer in Washington, D.C., sent him the clipping, and asked him how much it would cost to print up some wallet-size copies. The printer liked the prayer so much (I can’t recall any sentence that packs quite the wallop that that does, he said), he sent 500 cards to her for free, and the prayer became a permanent part of AAs history. The Complete Serenity Prayer Here is the unabridged Serenity Prayer, written by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892â€"1971): God, give us grace to accept with serenitythe things that cannot be changed,Courage to change the thingswhich should be changed,and the Wisdom to distinguishthe one from the other. Living one day at a time,Enjoying one moment at a time,Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,Taking, as Jesus did,This sinful world as it is,Not as I would have it,Trusting that You will make all things right,If I surrender to Your will,So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

Prejudice in Langston Hughes Novel, Not Without Laughter

Throughout Langston Hughes novel, Not Without Laughter, the author introduces multiple characters that reveal their notions of prejudice. The novel explores that prejudice in one form or another is in every aspect of ones life. Prejudice can be defined as an opinion for or against a persons look, race, class, or religion, which is usually formed by a hasty generalization. Most of the main characters, Aunt Hager, Sister Johnson, Jimboy, Harriet, and Tempy contain different accounts of prejudice in the world, which stimulate many of Sandys thoughts of life as he comes of age. Aunt Hager, Annjee, Harriet, and Sandy, are a multi-generation poor African American family that live in a small home together but are eventually divided by†¦show more content†¦Jimboy has the tendency to run across the country claiming to be looking for work while leaving her daughter and grandson to fend for themselves. Jimboys work ethics are not the only sore subject for Aunt Hager: she also objects t o his looks. She questions his ethnicity when she states, I aint never seen a yaller dude yet that meant a dark woman no good - an Annjee is dark(p.32). She also comments derisively that nobody even knows anything about his parents. She also claims that while he strums the blues on his guitar, he is the devils musicianer (p. 46). However if he plays her some gospel music, shell forget about their disagreements for a moment. Not only does Aunt Hager show prejudice towards Jimboy but also to anyone that lives or frequents the area that is called the Bottoms. The Bottoms are known to be where whites and blacks mingle to drink and an area that is known for prostitution. Later in the story the Bottoms is where her youngest daughter Harriet stays for a short time, since she wants to work and have a good time. Aunt Hager explains having a good time ... aint right, an it aint Christian.... (p. 55). Although Aunt Hager believes some white people are good, Sister Johnson, a neighbor, cant sta nd any white people and tells her story of being forcibly removed from what the whites called Crowville in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She tells the story of how African Americans lived in the town and how they were makingShow MoreRelatedLangston Hughes : The American Dream And Southern Migration With The Reality Of Prejudice2931 Words   |  12 Pages11/4/14 Langston Hughes Themes, Styles, and Techniques Langston Hughes has solidified his place as one of the greatest writers in American Literature to this day. This achievement is due to his thought provoking use of certain styles and techniques to portray his main themes and ideas. Many of Langston Hughes’ themes originated from his personal feelings and experiences. Hughes thus centers his themes around the ups and downs of African Americans living in America during his time. Langston HughesRead MoreThe Influences for Langston Hughes Successful Writing Career979 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican literature and American culture have always been connected throughout our history. Langston Hughes was able to recognize that, â€Å"Man had the inability to bridge cultures† (Bloom 16). In one of his writings, Luani of the Jungles, Langston writes about the interactions in a relationship between a white man and a black woman, â€Å"that is not ruined by outside disapproval, but the man’s own obsession and oversimplifi cation of their racial differences† (16). Hughes’s ability to speak openly aboutRead MoreNot Without Laughter by Langston Hughes1394 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout Langston Hughes novel, Not Without Laughter, the author introduces multiple characters that reveal their notions of prejudice. The novel explores that prejudice in one form or another is in every aspect of ones life. Prejudice can be defined as an opinion for or against a persons look, race, class, or religion, which is usually formed by a hasty generalization. Most of the main characters, Aunt Hager, Sister Johnson, Jimboy, Harriet, and Tempy contain different accounts of prejudice in theRead MoreEssay on The Poetry of Langston Hughes During the Harlem Renaissance1694 Words   |  7 Pagesartistic movement it was. II. Langston Hughes â€Å"I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older Than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.† â€Å"I’ve Known Rivers†-Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes, (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was born in Joplin, Missouri, to James Nathaniel and Caroline Hughes in 1902. Hughes’ parents were of mixed-race, and Langston Hughes was of African American, EuropeanRead More Prejudice in Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes Essay1750 Words   |  7 Pages Prejudice is a cancer that spreads hate among its perpetrators and victims alike. In 1930 Langston Hughes penned the novel, Not Without Laughter. This powerful story, written from the perspective of an African-American boy named James â€Å"Sandy† Rodgers, begins in the early 1900’s in the small town of Stanton, Kansas. Through the eyes of young Sandy, we see the devastating impact of racism on his family and those they are close to. We also see how the generations of abuse by whites caused a divideRead MoreEssay Art Life of Langston Hughes5893 Words   |  24 Pagesourselves. Racism and prejudices have plagued our society for years. There have been many people using many methods techniques in the fight against racism. One man used his art and the power of words to bring forth the issues of injustice suffered in America, he was Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was a Negro Writer, born at the turn of the century in 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His ancestry included three major race groups, however, he lived and was identified as a Negro or Colored (Hughes referred to himselfRead MorePrejudice Is a Cancer1759 Words   |  7 Pages Prejudice is a cancer that spreads hate among its perpetrators and victims alike. In 1930 Langston Hughes penned the novel, Not Without Laughter. This powerful story, written from the perspective of an African-American boy named James â€Å"Sandy† Rodgers, begins in the early 1900’s in the small town of Stanton, Kansas. Through the eyes of young Sandy, we see the devastating impact of racism on his family and those they are close to. We also see how the generat ions of abuse by whites caused aRead MoreLangston Hughes And The Harlem Renaissance1909 Words   |  8 PagesUnited States. Langston Hughes, a prominent poet during the 1920s, helped pave a road for literary innovation. Langston possessed an ability to portray black heritage and pride in a perceptive and vivid manner. His humble upbringings and contributions are what makes his story outstanding, making Langston one of the most influential figures during the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1,1902. His actual birth name was James Mercer Langston Hughes. He had anRead MoreGwendolyn Brooks As A Poet2100 Words   |  9 Pages Where Brooks grew up and lived the rest of her life there, there Brooks would experience racial prejudice in school. The young poet found comfort in reading and writing, which her parents actively encouraged Brooks’ mother declared to her, that she is going to be a poet. Brooks published her first poem Eventide at age thirteen in American Childhood magazine. At age sixteen, she met Langston Hughes, who gave her words of encouragement after reading her poems at a poetry reading. In 1934, BrooksRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 PagesIn 1919, when Langston Hughes was seventeen years old, he spent the summer with his father, Jim Hughes, in Toluca, Mexico. Langston had not seen his father since he was a small child, and he was excited about making the trip. However, during this visit, no affectionate bond would develop between Langston and Jim. Jim Hughes was a cold, difficult man, who was driven by ambition to make money and achieve respect. He had moved to Mexico to avoid segregation and racial injustice in the United States

Pretrial Release and Diversion Programs - 918 Words

trial Release and Diversion Pretrial release and diversion programs are meant to handle defendants prior to them standing trial. Pretrial release and diversion programs developed to deal with jail overcrowding because jails simply could not handle the number of defendants that were incarcerated prior to trial. There are four types of diversion programs: diversion from arrest, diversion from prosecution, diversion from jail, and diversion from imprisonment. The goal of pretrial release and diversion is to identify those defendants who do not pose a substantial danger to society and are good candidates for being released on their own recognizance. In addition to releasing the defendants from jails and freeing up critical space, pretrial diversion programs have to consider things like community safety. Therefore, not all defendants awaiting trial are eligible for pretrial diversion. Those in charge of pretrial diversion programs are have to consider the defendants prior history, life experience, and the nature of the accusations against the defendant. Pretrial diversion programs are voluntary programs. If a defendant is considered an appropriate candidate for a pretrial diversion program, he or she can opt for the pretrial diversion program. In that case, rather than facing trial for the crime, the defendant is placed in a probation-type scenario. The court oversees the defendant for a set period of time and if the defendant complies with the terms of theShow MoreRelatedPretrial Diversion Programs919 Words   |  4 PagesPretrial Diversion Programs In the United States, over 90,000 juveniles are incarcerated in juvenile justice facilities. To house 90,000 juveniles, majority non-violent offenders, it costs the states roughly 5.7 billion dollars annually. â€Å"With states facing serious budgetary constraints, it is an opportune time or policymakers to consider ways to reduce juvenile justice spending that won’t compromise public safety.† In the effort to reduce juvenile justice costs, community-based programs knownRead MoreThe Benefits Of Pretrial Diversion By Jerome D. Taylor IIi1031 Words   |  5 PagesBenefits of Pretrial Diversion Jerome D. Taylor III Western Kentucky University Abstract There are many benefits for jail diversionary programs in the state of Kentucky. Nonviolent offenders, family members, judicial systems, and the jails can benefit from keeping these people out of jail and in society. I was surprised to find, during my research very few negatives to these programs around the country. Key Words Incarceration: Confinement in a jail or prison. (http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionaryRead MoreToday s Criminal Justice Over The Past Few Decades1307 Words   |  6 Pagespenalties amid the extremes of imprisonment and regular probation. Usually, increases in crime have been retorted with increases in imprisonment. This has developed a counterproductive model that often lead to overcrowded prisons and jails, early release of potentially dangerous criminals, and corrections budgets that eat away state funds. In an effort to be hard on crime, many jurisdictions are making their incarceration standards harsher. Regular probation isn’t the answer either. The security ofRead MorePrison Overcrowding And The Criminal Justice System Essay1497 Words   |  6 Pagesinterview Warden Stevenson proposes the idea of rehabilitation programs. Governor Warner backs up the warden’s statements by adding that changes and a development plan should be implemented quickly. When felons are given minimum sentences more room becomes available in the system for felons who have committed more serious crimes. Under these circumstances a judge needs to consider public safety for criminals who qualify for early release. Communities want to be reassured that their safety is notRead MoreRape And Burglary As A Post Incarceration Supervision1730 Words   |  7 Pagesbased on good behavior or earned time. There is usually underlying expectations on the amount of punishment and a set release date with no review by parole boards or officials. Parole is considered a post-incarceration supervision and can be a part of the sentence. These reforms are from those of the late 1970’s. California, Illinois, Maine and Indiana abolished the parole release decision and replaced this with the determinate sentencing notion. There has been only one state that has truly changedRead MoreAn Overview of Alternative Methods of Incarceration700 Words   |  3 Pages60; Probat ion .33)† (Piquero, 2010). There are a number of alternatives to prison and the following five will be addressed; (1) Faith-Based Rehabilitation Programs, (2) Residential Community Corrections, (3) Diversionary Treatment Programs, (4) House Arrest and Electronic Monitoring, and (5) Ignition Interlocks. Faith-Based Rehabilitation Programs: A study by Grant Duwe, Ph.D. and Byron Johnson Ph.D. of Baylor Universities Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) affirm that the cost-benefit analysisRead MoreThe Limits Of The Criminal Sanction Written By The Criminologist Scholar Herbert Packer Essay1619 Words   |  7 Pagesemphasizes crime prevention and includes conservative values. An example of this is the broken windows theory where is a good-fighting crime strategy and creates a better environment for the community and promoted the community to stay in active programs that focused on prevention and criminal activity. In the high-crime neighborhood areas, the police worked with the community. If a window was broken, then the owner of the window had to immediately replace it. If there was graffiti on the walls,Read MoreReducing Recidivism Within The Correctional System1783 Words   |  8 PagesDiversion programs have evolved over time. There are countless programs available with which they all aim to reduce recidivism within the correctional system. We’re going to discuss fome of the programs and their effectiveness. One program that has become widely used is Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.). In 1991 the Phoenix PD along with local educators and community leaders, implemented a school-based, gang prevention pilot program. With the hope to reduce gang activity and teachRead MoreThe Purpose of Prison2742 Words   |  11 Pagesmoney, murder, rob, and rape others within society. When people commit crime against others and not stay within the law they must be punished. This research paper will discuss the purposes for prisons, and analyze conditions of prison. There are programs in prison and out of prison to try to reduce an individual from returning to prison. The ultimate goal is to teach an individual right from wrong and rehabilitate an offender back into society, another goal of prison is to incapacitate the individualRead MoreCorrections and the Criminal Justice System1166 Words   |  5 Pagesincludes probation, prison, parole, residential community placement, and revocati on of probation and parole. However, there are a couple of things that do not fall under the correctional system, they are supervision during bail, detention in jail, diversion programs, and intermediate sanctions. Corrections is believed to be responsible for administering punishment to criminals. They prevent future crime through deterrence and incapacitation, limiting offenders the opportunity to commit further crimes,

Napoleon Essay Free Essays

Bonaparte was nil more than a autocrat as he exploited France in chase of his ain aspirations to accomplish a dynasty in his name. A absolutism is frequently associated with repression and the workings of a constabulary province. Both of these were. We will write a custom essay sample on Napoleon Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now in fact. being used in France. For illustration Napoleon smartly censored the imperativeness and even the theater. When Napoleon took power. Paris had a vivacious newspaper concern. by the terminal of his reign there were merely four newspapers left due to his denial of a free-press and all of these had been under his control. These newspapers were censored and used by Napoleon for propaganda. He besides had undercover agents and betrayers working for his Ministry of Police. he used particular tribunals and arbitrary imprisonment which truly supports the construct of a constabulary province under a absolutism. Implementing these resources allowed Napoleon to quash any resistance to his regulation and oppress any civil agitation Sing these facts merely it would look that Napoleon was nil but a oppressive dictator. but. this would non needfully be a just judgement as throughout his reign he continued to utilize certain administrative organic structures which limited his freedom of action. such as the Senate and the Legislative Body which suggests he didn’t have or want overall power as a dictator for affairs such as jurisprudence devising. He besides introduced the Civil Code. which assured legal rights. he besides instituted a figure of reforms that brought echt benefits to the Gallic people. such as spiritual acceptance. which non merely followed radical ideal of freedom and equality as anyone was allowed to pattern their chosen faith. but would besides hold had popular support in France. Under Napoleon. the upper ranges of representative authorities had no serious power and were reduced to back uping Napoleon. The Senate. packed with Napoleon’s protagonists. did mostly what it was told. cashing their wage and picking up honours. The Tribunate was to a great extent purged in 1802 after knocking Napoleon. and remained careful afterwards ne’er to talk excessively loud. until it was shut in 1807. Napoleon therefore faced small resistance from politicians until the events of 1813-4. and at the terminal the senate did eventually seek and evict their great helper from power. Crucially. most of these places were filled by people who had been involved in radical authorities. However. The First Consul found solutions for a despairing state of affairs: he brought approximately spiritual mollification with the Concordat in 1801. restored fundss ( making the Banque de France and the franc-germinal ) . reformed the disposal ( go throughing the jurisprudence of 28 Pluviose. An VIII making the prefects ) . won triumphs abroad. conveying about an terminal to ten old ages of war. It is true. as people tend to show presents. that this success benefited from some steps and triumphs of the Directoire ; but there is no denying that Bonaparte brought solutions to the jobs inherited from the Revolution. something which the Directoire had non been able to make. Heredity did non hold much significance since the new emperor had no kids and Josephine was distributing the rumor that he could non hold any. The cardinal point here was to avoid a vacuity of power which would hold as a effect a Restoration of the Bourbons. a possibility that had terrified the ex-members of the Convention of all time since the endangering announcement of Louis XVIII in Verona. after Louis XVII’s functionary decease. Thus. a continuity would be maintained in instance of accident or successful slaying effort against Bonaparte. The solution remained probationary merely because it was impossible to happen a solution which would guarantee the heritage of the Revolution. Napoleon is reforms did profit France greatly. For illustration one of his economic reforms. The Bank of France. established in 1800. restored stableness to the state by giving a monopoly of note issue to the new cardinal bank and endorsing it steadfastly with gold and Ag. Labour was besides controlled. Napoleon’s thoughts on economic sciences were instead old fashioned. He even considered reconstructing the clubs. The prohibition on trade brotherhoods remained though and bankbooks were introduced to restrict workers’ freedom of motion. The concluding point of Napoleons economic direction was that the control of monetary values and the supply of nutrient was introduced. There were no bread public violences to endanger his regulation. The export of maize was steadfastly restricted and maximal monetary values for staff of life and flour were introduced in 1812. He was cognizant that hungriness was a much greater menace than the desire for autonomy. Napoleon himself was instead unshockable: he one time said. â€Å"If I were regulating Jews I would reconstruct the Temple of Solomon† . However. he realised the value of organized faith as a agency towards societal peace and order: â€Å"The people ust have a faith and that faith must be in the custodies of the government† . The consequence was the spiritual colony of 1801: the Concordat. which said the Catholic religion was recognised as the faith of the great maj ority of the population’ and the clergy were to be paid as province functionaries. Besid es buyers of former Church lands were guaranteed ownership. However. so that he should non be seen as reconstructing Roman Catholicism Napoleon attached the Organic Laws to the colony. They included a charter of Protestant autonomies. verification of the subjugation of the Church to the secular power in France. In fact. the Concordat endured even when Rome was annexed in 1809 and the Pope became a Gallic captive. To reason. Napoleon ruled like a dictator during his regulation of France between 1799 and 1815 as he used censoring and the secret constabulary etc to stay in power nevertheless his reforms did convey echt benefit to France. nevertheless the term ‘enlightened despot’ might be more suited to depict his nature. How to cite Napoleon Essay, Essay examples

Slingblade Essays - Hero, , Term Papers, Research Papers

Slingblade There are heroes that save the world and some that save people; there are some that are known across the world and some that only certain people consider heroes. Superman is someone who is known across the world and who saved different people every episode. Karl Childers is a man who is a hero to a little boy named Frank; he saved his life. Everyone has different thoughts about the qualities of a hero. To me a hero is someone that is much admired and shows great courage. A hero as to be able to react under pressure and will do anything to help a person in trouble. However for Karl he isn't much admired but does show great courage; he also just wants to make Frank's life a little easier on him. Another quality of a hero is they must have an enemy; Karl's enemy is Doyle. Karl Childers is a hero in my eyes because he saved a little boy's life, Frank, from an evil man Doyle. Doyle had a terrible temper and couldn't control himself when he drank. If Doyle had gone on living he would have made Frank's life a living hell; which it pretty much already was. Or Doyle would have ended up getting drunk one night and killing Frank. Frank's father committed suicide, which left Frank devastated and now Doyle treated him like he was nothing. Karl did kill four people in his lifetime and most people would say that he isn't a hero, but Karl did only kill those who did wrong. Except for his baby brother, but he was only doing what he parents told him to do, he didn't know any better. I'm not sure if Karl is going to hell, in some way I think that God would be able to forgive him. Karl loved reading the bible, some of it was hard for him to understand but he was able to make independent thoughts about the Bible. Also there is a lot of blood and killing in the Bible but I think that God will forgive if it is for the right reasons and Karl only did kill those who did wrong. I think that Karl knows in his mind that God will forgive him and allow him to go to Heaven. English Essays

Work in Industrial Revolution essays

Work in Industrial Revolution essays During the later half of the 1700s, our country was going through some amazing changes. These changes did not involve politics, but they would eventually lead to some political policies the United States would soon pass. But these changes centered around economics and a new way of business in the U.S. They would also bring a new way of life for the middle and lower classes. These changes are no referred to as the Industrial Revolution, and it brought forth a new way of producing goods. It changed the face of our nation from and agricultural emphasis to one of industry and mass production of processed goods. This in turn changed how the country would look at work places and how workers were treated. Great Britain gave birth to this whole concept of industry while it was also the strongest power in the modern world. This was a revolution that could first only be started by a very powerful country. The U.S., France, and Germany would soon follow in the footsteps of Great Britain. With the introduction of this new huge concept, new problems would have to be tackled. Some of these problems concerned the work force (Giljie). One of the most famous technological advancements was that of steam power, and more exact, the steam engine. The world was also finding methods of fuel for energy, such as coal and petroleum. This revolutionized many industries including textiles and manufacturing. Also, a new communication medium was invented called the telegraph. This made communicating across the ocean much faster (Giljie). Though technology was thriving, it was at the cost of the socioeconomic status of the general population, which was falling. One consequence was the birth of large cities with massive housing. Many people were driven to the cities to look for work. In turn, they ended up living in the cities that could not support them. This new revolution also brought forth the idea of a materialistic society, which we still hav...

Rifle vs. Riffle

Rifle vs. Riffle Rifle vs. Riffle Rifle vs. Riffle By Maeve Maddox A reader has a question about the verbs rifle and riffle in relation to papers: One word I so often see misspelled in books is riffle. Authors will say,  He rifled through the papers in the file. More often than not, they do not use riffled. I even see it in bestsellers. Actually, papers may be either rifled (long i) or riffled (short i). The words possibly share an etymology with an ancestor that had such meanings as scratch, scrape, steal, and rob. In Piers Plowman (c. 1400), Langland has the allegorical character Covetousness say, â€Å"I rose when they were asleep and rifled their sacks.† Rifle can be used transitively or intransitively to mean, â€Å"make a thorough search.† Sometimes the phrasal â€Å"rifle through† is used. Crime writers (and police) often have occasion to use the verb rifle when describing the aftermath of a break-in: I sat in the black leather chair and carefully  rifled  through the junk mail, bills, and personal correspondence. A peace group in Cleveland reports a break-in of their offices. Some items of value were taken including computer disks and stamps, others were ignored and the office was rifled. The intruder rifled drawers and files but nothing appeared to have been taken. He rifled through a desk and found a security card to the building’s front door. Drawers and filing cabinets had been rifled through and left open, but no property was initially noticed to be missing. â€Å"To riffle papers† is another thing altogether. In the context of moving paper, riffle means, â€Å"to ruffle in a slight or rippling manner.† Anyone who has ever sat outside to read a newspaper or conventional book has experienced the mild annoyance of having one’s reading interrupted by a breeze: The  breeze riffled the pages  and he held them down and stared at the  drawings, which seemed to come to life on the page. Things other than paper may be riffled: Cool  breezes riffled  through Letos hair as he descended toward the warmer surface. A late-afternoon  breeze riffled  the water out beyond the  lazy  breakers and hustled some candy wrappers down the wet brown beach. A sudden  gust riffled  palm fronds overhead, but nothing else stirred. Another use of riffle is to describe the movement of flicking through papers or cards in such a way as to release the leaves or cards in rapid succession: As the  cards  are held and  riffled, the back design of the  cards  are observed.   The dealers  hands  riffled  the deck, and the  cards  made a smooth, purring noise. With rifle and riffle- as with so much else- context is all. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Apply to, Apply for, and Apply withPeace of Mind and A Piece of One's Mind25 Idioms About Bread and Dessert