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04-15-2008, 03:24 PM
Daily Reflections
ANGER: A "DUBIOUS LUXURY"
If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch
and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious
luxury of the normal men, but for alcoholics these things
are poison.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 66
"Dubious luxury." How often have I remembered those words.
It's not just anger that's best left to nonalcoholics; I
built a list including justifiable resentment, self-pity,
judgmentalism, self-righteousness, false pride and false
humility. I'm always surprised to read the actual quote.
So well have the principles of the program been drummed
into me that I keep thinking all of these defects are
listed too. Thank God I can't afford them--or I surely
would indulge in them.
************************************************** *********
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought For The Day
In A.A. we have insurance. Our faith in God is a kind of
insurance against the terrible things that might happen to
us if we ever drink again. By putting our drink problem in
the hands of God, we've taken out a sort of insurance policy,
which insures us against the ravages of drink, as our homes
are insured against destruction by fire. Am I paying my A.A.
insurance premiums regularly?
Meditation For The Day
I must try to love all humanity. Love comes from thinking of
every man or woman as your brother or sister, because they
are children of God. This way of thinking makes me care enough
about them to really want to help them. I must put this kind
of love into action by serving others. Love means no severe
judging, no resentments, no malicious gossip, and no
destructive criticism. It means patience, understanding,
compassion, and helpfulness.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that I may realize that God loves me, since He is
the Father of us all. I pray that I in turn may have love
for all of His children.
************************************************** *********
As Bill Sees It
Roots of Reality, p. 173
We started upon a personal inventory, Step Four. A business which takes no regular
inventory usually goes broke. Taking a commercial inventory is a fact-finding and a
fact-facing process. It is an effort to discover the truth about the stock in trade. One
object is to disclose damaged or unsalable goods, to get rid of them promptly and
without regret. If the owner of the business is to be successful, he cannot fool
himself about values.
We had to do exactly the same thing with our lives. We had to take stock honestly.
<< << << >> >> >>
"Moments of perception can build into a lifetime of spiritual serenity, as I have
excellent reason to know. Roots of reality, supplanting the neurotic underbrush, will
hold fast despite the high winds of the forces which would destroy us, or which we would
use to destroy ourselves."
1. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 64
2. Letter, 1949
************************************************** *********
Walk in Dry Places
Fix the Need
Taking Inventory
Recovering users have a saying: "Need a fix? Fix the need" It's great advice, if we combine it with our daily inventory.
In good behavior and bad, we're always trying to meet our needs. As compulsive people, we have lots of experience with destructive ways of meeting them. Driven by nameless hungers, we tried desperately to combat boredom, to raise our low self-esteem, to find companionship. What we actually did was place more distance between ourselves and the true satisfying of our needs.
On the new path, one way of fixing needs is to come to terms with them. Maybe we had a need for success that was really a frantic effort to "show others" that we were all right. We should want to succeed, but let's begin by exchanging any false goal for one that's right for us. Maybe we have other needs that are based on defective principles and immature hopes.
What do we rally need? All of us need self-honesty, self-worth, friendship, and purpose.... all available in the AA program as part of sober living. Finding these, we'll gain insight that will enable to sort out and understand other needs,..... and perhaps find those that correspond to our heart's desire and bring real happiness. It's something we can turn over, because God knows our needs before we even ask.
I'll remember today that my needs exist to serve my way of life, and that I must never be a slave to them.
************************************************** *********
Keep It Simple
No human creature can give order to love.George Sand
If we are trying to get others to love us, all we’re really doing is trying to be in control. Trying to control others can be a powerful drug. Remember, we can’t control others. We can’t make others love us. Our Higher Power has control, not us.
So, what do we need to do? Turn things over to our Higher Power and just be ourselves. Sure, it can scare us to just be ourselves. The truth is, not everyone will love us. But if we’re honest about who we are, others will respect us. We’ll like ourselves better. And we’ll have a better chance of loving others and being loved.
Prayer for the Day: I pray to have my need for control lifted from me. I pray to be rid of self-will.
Action for the Day: Today, I’ll list five ways my self-will---my need to control---has gotten me in trouble.
************************************************** *********
Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition
ANOTHER CHANCE - Poor, black, totally ruled by alcohol, she felt shut away from any life worth living. But when she began a prison sentence, a door opened.
Oh, I might drink too much at times--everyone I knew drank. But I don't remember that any of them ever went to sleep in joints and woke up with no shoes on in the winter or fell out of chairs. But I did. I don't remember getting any of them getting put out in the winter because they didn't pay their rent. But to me, whiskey meant more than a home for my sons.
p. 532
************************************************** *********
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
Step Eight - "Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."
This attitude, of course, is the end result of purposeful forgetting. It is an attitude which can only be changed by a deep and honest search of our motives and actions.
p. 79
************************************************** *********
"One of the tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us
tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose
garden over the horizon, instead of enjoying the roses that are
blooming outside our windows today."
--Dale Carnegie
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life
to celebrate.
--Oprah Winfrey
Deep, abiding joy is available to anyone who learns the secret of
pursuing every task with energy and dedication, as though it were a
calling.
--Thomas Kinkade
The value of life lies, not in the length of days, but in the use we make
of them: a man may live long, yet live very little.
--Michel de Montaigne
It is not length of life, but depth of life.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
Do not return hurt for hut.
--Jerry C. Whybrew
************************************************** *********
Father Leo's Daily Meditation
LAUGHTER
"You grow up the day you have
the first real laugh - at yourself."
--Ethel Barrymore
Today I can laugh at myself. I do not take myself too seriously and I
am beginning to grow. I used to be so serious. Having the "poor me's",
sitting on my pity pot demanding attention; I was so unhappy. And I
was causing my unhappiness.
Then a friend listened to my complaints for half an hour and then
began to laugh, giving out a real belly-laugh and at that point I began
to laugh, too! My attitude was so stupid, selfish and futile that it
demanded a laugh to shake me out of it - at that point I began to grow.
Today I laugh at my funny little ways, my funny little walk, my
ridiculous pretensions, my grandiose behavior. Today with the laughter
comes humility.
O Lord, let me experience the miracle of laughter.
************************************************** *********
"Peace be with you.
John 20:21a
"If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another."
1 John 1:7
************************************************** *********
Daily Inspiration
Don't spend a lot of time second guessing yourself because often times our first choice is the best choice and, if it isn't, we are free to choose again. Lord, guide me through all of my decisions and help me to be flexible enough to change my mind when necessary.
Never let the abundance of gifts from God cause you to forget the Giver. Lord, may I start and end each day with a thank you to You for all of my blessings including those which I take for granted.
ANGER: A "DUBIOUS LUXURY"
If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch
and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious
luxury of the normal men, but for alcoholics these things
are poison.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 66
"Dubious luxury." How often have I remembered those words.
It's not just anger that's best left to nonalcoholics; I
built a list including justifiable resentment, self-pity,
judgmentalism, self-righteousness, false pride and false
humility. I'm always surprised to read the actual quote.
So well have the principles of the program been drummed
into me that I keep thinking all of these defects are
listed too. Thank God I can't afford them--or I surely
would indulge in them.
************************************************** *********
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought For The Day
In A.A. we have insurance. Our faith in God is a kind of
insurance against the terrible things that might happen to
us if we ever drink again. By putting our drink problem in
the hands of God, we've taken out a sort of insurance policy,
which insures us against the ravages of drink, as our homes
are insured against destruction by fire. Am I paying my A.A.
insurance premiums regularly?
Meditation For The Day
I must try to love all humanity. Love comes from thinking of
every man or woman as your brother or sister, because they
are children of God. This way of thinking makes me care enough
about them to really want to help them. I must put this kind
of love into action by serving others. Love means no severe
judging, no resentments, no malicious gossip, and no
destructive criticism. It means patience, understanding,
compassion, and helpfulness.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that I may realize that God loves me, since He is
the Father of us all. I pray that I in turn may have love
for all of His children.
************************************************** *********
As Bill Sees It
Roots of Reality, p. 173
We started upon a personal inventory, Step Four. A business which takes no regular
inventory usually goes broke. Taking a commercial inventory is a fact-finding and a
fact-facing process. It is an effort to discover the truth about the stock in trade. One
object is to disclose damaged or unsalable goods, to get rid of them promptly and
without regret. If the owner of the business is to be successful, he cannot fool
himself about values.
We had to do exactly the same thing with our lives. We had to take stock honestly.
<< << << >> >> >>
"Moments of perception can build into a lifetime of spiritual serenity, as I have
excellent reason to know. Roots of reality, supplanting the neurotic underbrush, will
hold fast despite the high winds of the forces which would destroy us, or which we would
use to destroy ourselves."
1. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 64
2. Letter, 1949
************************************************** *********
Walk in Dry Places
Fix the Need
Taking Inventory
Recovering users have a saying: "Need a fix? Fix the need" It's great advice, if we combine it with our daily inventory.
In good behavior and bad, we're always trying to meet our needs. As compulsive people, we have lots of experience with destructive ways of meeting them. Driven by nameless hungers, we tried desperately to combat boredom, to raise our low self-esteem, to find companionship. What we actually did was place more distance between ourselves and the true satisfying of our needs.
On the new path, one way of fixing needs is to come to terms with them. Maybe we had a need for success that was really a frantic effort to "show others" that we were all right. We should want to succeed, but let's begin by exchanging any false goal for one that's right for us. Maybe we have other needs that are based on defective principles and immature hopes.
What do we rally need? All of us need self-honesty, self-worth, friendship, and purpose.... all available in the AA program as part of sober living. Finding these, we'll gain insight that will enable to sort out and understand other needs,..... and perhaps find those that correspond to our heart's desire and bring real happiness. It's something we can turn over, because God knows our needs before we even ask.
I'll remember today that my needs exist to serve my way of life, and that I must never be a slave to them.
************************************************** *********
Keep It Simple
No human creature can give order to love.George Sand
If we are trying to get others to love us, all we’re really doing is trying to be in control. Trying to control others can be a powerful drug. Remember, we can’t control others. We can’t make others love us. Our Higher Power has control, not us.
So, what do we need to do? Turn things over to our Higher Power and just be ourselves. Sure, it can scare us to just be ourselves. The truth is, not everyone will love us. But if we’re honest about who we are, others will respect us. We’ll like ourselves better. And we’ll have a better chance of loving others and being loved.
Prayer for the Day: I pray to have my need for control lifted from me. I pray to be rid of self-will.
Action for the Day: Today, I’ll list five ways my self-will---my need to control---has gotten me in trouble.
************************************************** *********
Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition
ANOTHER CHANCE - Poor, black, totally ruled by alcohol, she felt shut away from any life worth living. But when she began a prison sentence, a door opened.
Oh, I might drink too much at times--everyone I knew drank. But I don't remember that any of them ever went to sleep in joints and woke up with no shoes on in the winter or fell out of chairs. But I did. I don't remember getting any of them getting put out in the winter because they didn't pay their rent. But to me, whiskey meant more than a home for my sons.
p. 532
************************************************** *********
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
Step Eight - "Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."
This attitude, of course, is the end result of purposeful forgetting. It is an attitude which can only be changed by a deep and honest search of our motives and actions.
p. 79
************************************************** *********
"One of the tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us
tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose
garden over the horizon, instead of enjoying the roses that are
blooming outside our windows today."
--Dale Carnegie
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life
to celebrate.
--Oprah Winfrey
Deep, abiding joy is available to anyone who learns the secret of
pursuing every task with energy and dedication, as though it were a
calling.
--Thomas Kinkade
The value of life lies, not in the length of days, but in the use we make
of them: a man may live long, yet live very little.
--Michel de Montaigne
It is not length of life, but depth of life.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
Do not return hurt for hut.
--Jerry C. Whybrew
************************************************** *********
Father Leo's Daily Meditation
LAUGHTER
"You grow up the day you have
the first real laugh - at yourself."
--Ethel Barrymore
Today I can laugh at myself. I do not take myself too seriously and I
am beginning to grow. I used to be so serious. Having the "poor me's",
sitting on my pity pot demanding attention; I was so unhappy. And I
was causing my unhappiness.
Then a friend listened to my complaints for half an hour and then
began to laugh, giving out a real belly-laugh and at that point I began
to laugh, too! My attitude was so stupid, selfish and futile that it
demanded a laugh to shake me out of it - at that point I began to grow.
Today I laugh at my funny little ways, my funny little walk, my
ridiculous pretensions, my grandiose behavior. Today with the laughter
comes humility.
O Lord, let me experience the miracle of laughter.
************************************************** *********
"Peace be with you.
John 20:21a
"If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another."
1 John 1:7
************************************************** *********
Daily Inspiration
Don't spend a lot of time second guessing yourself because often times our first choice is the best choice and, if it isn't, we are free to choose again. Lord, guide me through all of my decisions and help me to be flexible enough to change my mind when necessary.
Never let the abundance of gifts from God cause you to forget the Giver. Lord, may I start and end each day with a thank you to You for all of my blessings including those which I take for granted.