Alcoholic Anonymous - Daily Ponderables - Together we trudge the
Road of Happy Destiny – Tuesday, 7 January 2014 - Daily Reflections
AT THE TURNING POINT
Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point.
We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.(ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, page
59)
Every day I stand at turning points. My thoughts and actions can
propel me toward growth or turn me down the road to old habits and to booze.
Sometimes turning points are beginnings, as when I decide to start praising,
instead of condemning someone or when I begin to ask for help instead of going
it alone. At other times turning points are endings, such as when I see clearly
the need to stop festering resentments or crippling self-seeking. Many
shortcomings tempt me daily; therefore, I also have daily opportunities to
become aware of them. In one form or another, many of my character defects
appear daily: self-condemnation, anger, or acting out of grandiosity.
Attempting half measures to eliminate these defects merely
paralyzes my efforts to change. It is only when I ask God for help, with
complete abandon, that I become willing -- and -- able to change.(From the book
Daily Reflections © Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought for the Day
When temptation comes, as it does sometimes to all of us, I will
say to myself. - "No, my whole life depends on not taking that drink and
nothing in the world can make me do it." Besides, I have promised that
Higher Power that I wouldn't do it. I know that God doesn't want me to drink
and I won't break my promise to, God. I've given up my right to drink and it's
not my decision any longer. Have I made the choice once and for all, so that
there's no going back on it?
Meditation for the Day
In silence comes God's meaning to the heart. I cannot judge when
it enters the heart. I can only judge by results. God's word is spoken to the
secret places of my heart and, in some hour of temptation, I find that word and
realize its value for the first time when I need it, I find it there. "Thy
Father, who sees thee in secret, shall reward thee openly."
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may see God's meaning in my life. I pray that I
may gladly accept what God has to teach me.(From the book Twenty-Four Hours a
Day © Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation)
NA - Just for Today
“Recovery”
“Narcotics Anonymous offers addicts a program of recovery that
is more than just a life without drugs. Not only is this way of life better
than the hell we lived, it is better than any life that we have ever known.”(Basic
Text, page 107)
Few of us have any interest in “recovering” what we had before
we started using. Many of us suffered severely from physical, sexual, and
emotional abuse. Getting high and staying high seemed like the only possible
way to cope with such abuse. Others suffered in less noticeable but equally
painful ways before addiction took hold. We lacked direction and purpose. We
were spiritually empty. We felt isolated, unable to empathize with others. We
had none of the things that give life its sense and value. We took drugs in a
vain attempt to fill the emptiness inside ourselves. Most of us wouldn’t want
to “recover” what we used to have.
Ultimately, the recovery we find in NA is something different: a
chance at a new life. We’ve been given tools to clear the wreckage from our
lives. We’ve been given support in courageously setting forth on a new path.
And we’ve been given the gift of conscious contact with a Power greater than
ourselves, providing us with the inner strength and direction we so sorely
lacked in the past.
Recovering? Yes, in every way. We’re recovering a whole new
life, better than anything we ever dreamed possible. We are grateful.
Just for today: I’ve recovered something I never had, something
I never imagined possible: the life of a recovering addict. Thank you, Higher
Power, in more than words can say.(From the book Just for Today © Copyright
1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)
Thought for Today
"As human beings, our greatness does not lie so much in
being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves."(Mahatma
Gandhi)
Buddha/Zen Thoughts
Half the spiritual life consists in remembering what we are up
against and where we are going.(Ayya Khema, "When the Iron Eagle
Flies")
Native American
".when we become hollow bones there is no limit to what the
Higher Powers can do in and through us in spiritual things." (Frank Fools
Crow, LAKOTA)
If we want to be of maximum use to the Creator, we must ready
ourselves to do so if we are to become a channel for His purposes, we must
prepare ourselves to do so. If we have resentment, fear, selfishness, or anger,
we are not hollow bones. We must be rid of these things. We must change
ourselves. We must ask for forgiveness for ourselves and forgive our brothers
and sisters. We must keep our insides clean. We cannot use our power in a good
way when we have blockages such as hate, judgment and envy. When we are free of
these things the Higher Powers can use us beyond our wildest imagination. Then
we can really help ourselves and help our people. Only when we are hollow bones
can we have an effect on the world.
Oh Great Spirit, remove from me the things that block my
usefulness to YOU. Remove from my day all thinking that is out of harmony with
YOUR ways. Grant me YOUR peace and allow me to function as a hollow bone.
Keep It Simple
A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice. (E.W. Howe)
Do you let yourself be afraid of your illness? Many of us were
scared into sobriety. Often, a spiritual awakening directly follows a good
scare. Fear seems to improve our vision. Are you smart enough to run from your
addiction? The First Step should create fear inside us. It's about looking
honestly at our addiction and what would happen to us if we kept using. Looking
at Step One regularly will give us the respectful fear we need to stay sober.
Often fear is seen as bad, but it can be good, if we listen to it.
It can be a great mover. When you're afraid, your spirit is
trying to tell you something.
Prayer for the Day: God, direct my fear. Have me go to YOU,
family, friends, and others who love me. Help me see my fear and listen to its
message.
Action for the Day: I'll list five ways that my fear has taught
me important lessons. I'll see that my fear can help me as long as I listen to
it and not live it.
Big Book
"We represent no particular faith or denomination. We are
dealing only with general principles common to most denominations."(Alcoholics
Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, Page 93)
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If you're not enjoying your sobriety it's your own damn fault
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