Alcoholic Anonymous - Daily Ponderables - Together we trudge the
Road of Happy Destiny – Monday, 30 December 2013
Daily Reflections
ANONYMITY
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions,
ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.(ALCOHOLICS
ANONYMOUS, page 564)
Tradition Twelve became important early in my sobriety and,
along with the Twelve Steps, it continues to be a must in my recovery. I became
aware after I joined the Fellowship that I had personality problems, so that
when I first heard it, the Tradition's message was very clear: there exists an
immediate way for me to face, with others, my alcoholism and attendant anger,
defensiveness, offend-ego-deflator; it relieved my anger and gave me a chance
to utilize the principles of the program. All of the Steps, and this particular
Tradition, have guided me over decades of continuous sobriety. I am grateful to
those who were here when I needed them.(From the book Daily Reflections ©
Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought for the Day
To the extent that I fail in my responsibilities, A.A. fails. To
the extent that I succeed, A.A. succeeds. Every failure of mine will set back
A.A. work to that extent. Every success of mine will put A.A. ahead to that
extent. I shall not wait to be drafted for service to others, but I shall
volunteer. I shall accept every opportunity to work for A.A. as a challenge,
and I shall do my best to accept every challenge and perform my task as best I
can. Will I accept every challenge gladly?
Meditation for the Day
People are failures in the deepest sense when they seek to live
without God's sustaining power. Many people try to be self-sufficient and seek
selfish pleasure and find that it does not work too well. No matter how much
material wealth they acquire, no matter how much fame and material power, the
time of disillusionment and futility usually comes. Death is ahead, and they
cannot take any material thing with them when they go. What does it matter if I
have gained the whole world, but lost my own soul?
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I will not come empty to the end of my life. I pray
that I may so live that I will not be afraid to die.(From the book Twenty-Four
Hours a Day © Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation)
NA - Just for Today
Action and Prayer
"... growth is not the result of wishing but of action and
prayer"(Basic Text, pages 35-36)
Sometimes it seems as if our recovery is growing much too
slowly. We struggle with the steps; we wrestle with the same problems; we labor
under the same uncomfortable feelings day after day. We wish that recovery
would move a little faster so we could find some comfort!
Wishing doesn't work in recovery; this isn't a program of magic.
If wishes cured addiction, we all would have been well long ago! What does give
us relief in recovery is action and prayer.
Narcotics Anonymous has worked for so many addicts because it is
a carefully designed program of action and prayer. The actions we undertake in
each of the steps bring more and more recovery to each area of our lives. And
prayer keeps us connected to our Higher Power. Together, action and prayer keep
us well-grounded in recovery.
Just for today: My recovery is too precious to just wish about
it. Today is a good day for action and prayer.((page 380)From the book Just for
Today © Copyright 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)
Thought for Today
"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light
of a single candle."(Francis of Assisi)
Buddha/Zen Thoughts
Even though the training in ethics takes many forms, the ethics
of abandoning the ten non-virtues is their basis. Of the ten non-virtues, three
pertain to bodily actions, four to verbal actions, and three to mental actions.
The three mental non-virtues are:
1. Covetousness: thinking, "May this become mine,"
desiring something that belongs to another.
2. Harmful intent: wishing to injure others, be it great or
small injury.
3. Wrong view: viewing some existent thing, such as rebirth,
cause and effect, or the Three Jewels*, as non-existent.
The opposite of these ten non-virtues are the ten virtues, and
engaging in them is called the practice of ethics.
*The core of Buddhism: Buddha, his doctrine (Dharma), and the
Spiritual Community.(From "The Pocket Dalai Lama," edited by Mary
Craig, 2002. Reprinted by arrangement with Tambala Publications, Boston,
www.tambala.com.)
Native American
"Always remember that the Great Mystery is good; evil can
come only from ourselves!"(Grandmother of Charles Eastman. SANTEE SIOUX)
The Great Mystery is love, good and principle. He is a guiding
Father. He doesn't play games. He knows only how to love. Sometimes, when
things go wrong, we blame Him or others. Usually, if we are honest, we can see
how decisions or things done in the past put us in a position to be hurt. It
comes back to us. When this happens, it is not something the Creator caused,
but something we, ourselves caused. Most of our problems are of our own making.
When this happens, we should correct what we've done, ask the Great Spirit for
forgiveness and pray for guidance in the future.
My Creator, bless me with Your good.
Keep It Simple
Keep It Simple.(AA slogan)
Addiction messed up our thinking. We know that from taking Step
One. We forgot things. We had blackouts. We made excuses, and we even started
to believe them. We were mixed up. We couldn't figure things out. We decided to
get high and forget about it. Now our minds are clear. We can keep thinking
clearly if we work our program and Keep It Simple. Don't drink or use other
drugs. Go to meetings. Work the Steps. Be yourself. Ask for help. Trust your
Higher Power. Two thoughts will always mess us up if we let them in. They are
"Yes, but..." and "What if?" Don't let them in. Keep It
Simple.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, thanks for recovery. Help me
stay sober and clean today.
Action for the Day: Today, I'll take one thing at a time and
Keep It Simple.
Big Book
"Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble?
Does this mean we are going to get drunk. Some people tell us so. But this is only
a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives."(Alcoholics Anonymous,
4th Edition, How It Works, Page 70)
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If you're not enjoying your sobriety it's your own damn fault
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