Alcoholic Anonymous - Daily Ponderables - Together we trudge the
Road of Happy Destiny – Thursday, 9 January 2014 - Daily Reflections
AN ACT OF PROVIDENCE
It is truly awful to admit that, glass in hand, we have warped
our minds into such an obsession for destructive drinking that only an act of
Providence can remove it from us (ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, page 21)
My act of Providence, (a manifestation of divine care and
direction), came as I experienced the total bankruptcy of active
alcoholism--everything meaningful in my life was gone! I telephoned Alcoholics
Anonymous and , from that instant, my life has never been the same. When I
reflect on that very special moment, I know that, God was working in my life
long before I was able to acknowledge and accept spiritual concepts. The glass
was put down through this one act of Providence and my journey into sobriety
began. My life continues to unfold with divine care and direction. Step ONE, in
which I admitted I was powerless over alcohol that my life had become
unmanageable, takes on more meaning for me one day at a time--in life-saving,
life-giving Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. (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 we were drinking, most of us had no real faith in anything.
We may have said that we believed in God, but we didn't act as though we did.
We never honestly asked God to help us and we never really accepted His help.
To us, faith looked like helplessness. But when we came into A.A., we began to
have faith in God. And we found out that faith gave us the strength we needed
to overcome drinking. Have I learned that there is strength in faith?
Meditation for the Day
I will have faith, no matter what may befall me. I will be
patient, even in the midst of troubles. I will not fear the strain of life,
because I believe that God knows just what I can bear. I will look to the
future with confidence. I know that God will not ask me to bear anything that
could overcome or destroy me.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may put this day in the hands of God. I pray for
faith, so that nothing will upset me or weaken my determination to stay sober. (From
the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day © Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation)
NA - Just for Today
Returning our sponsor’s kindness
“Our earliest involvements with others often begin with our
sponsor.” (Basic Text, page 57)
Our sponsors can be abundant sources of recovery information,
wisdom, and loving words. They’ve done so much for us. From the late night
telephone calls to the hours spent listening to our recovery writing, they’ve
believed in us and invested their time to prove it. They’ve lovingly and firmly
shown us how to be honest. Their boundless compassion in times of turmoil has
given us the strength to go on. Their way of helping has prompted us to seek
our answers within ourselves, and we’ve become mature, responsible, confident
individuals as a result.
Though our sponsor has given so generously and has never demanded
repayment, there are things we can do to show our appreciation. We treat our
sponsor with respect. They are not trash cans designed for us to dump our
garbage in. They have their times of trial, just as we do, and sometimes need
our support. They are human, have feelings, and appreciate our concern. Maybe
they would like to receive a card in the mail or a phone call expressing our
love.
Whatever we do to return our sponsor’s kindness will enhance our
personal recovery, not to mention the joy we’ll bring to our sponsor.
Just for today: My sponsor has cared for me when I couldn’t care
for myself. Today, I will do something nice for my sponsor. (From the book Just
for Today © Copyright 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)
Thought for Today
"Nothing erases unpleasant thoughts more effectively than
concentration on pleasant ones." (Hans Sale)
Buddha/Zen Thoughts
In the beginning mindfulness takes away worries and fears about
past and future and keeps us anchored in the present. In the end it points to
the right view of the self. (Ayya Khema, "Be an Island")
Native American
"So, with the Native way, it's not whether people find out
about what you've done or not... that's not nearly as strong as having your
source of morality within you, having your morality arise out of an inner
perception of what is wrong, ridiculous, or shameful. You are your own
judge." (Eunice Baumann-Nelson, Ph.D., PENOBSCOT)
Inside each of us is a voice. It is a quiet voice. It is a
guiding voice. If we listen for it, it will guide us, and help us avoid
disaster. It is especially active when we are afraid, when we are in doubt,
when we are scared, when we need help, and when we get angry. If we are excited
emotionally, it is hard to hear this voice. If we are angry, it's hard to hear
this voice because it is usually quiet. The best thing we can do is to practice
getting quiet. If we don't get quiet, there is another voice called the judge.
It tells us to attack or say bad things to other people or to judge ourselves.
This voice is loud and usually gets us into trouble.
Creator, Great Mystery, help me listen for the quiet voice. Let
me know this voice of YOURS. Your ways are gentle. Guide me with this voice.
Thank you.
Keep It Simple
Everything is funny as long as it happening to someone else. (Will
Rogers)
We laugh when others do something silly. We're amused when
something funny happens to them. But if the same happens to us and people
laugh, we might give them the evil eye. Yet, when others laugh, it can free us.
It frees us to see the world through new eyes. Likewise, when we laugh at
ourselves, we're free to see ourselves with new eyes. Instead of trying to be
perfect, we accept we're human. To laugh at ourselves is to accept ourselves.
There's no room for shame when we laugh. We enjoy ourselves just as we are.
Can I accept the fact I'm human and I have limits?
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, when I refuse to accept that
I'm only human, be gentle with me. I
know that, when I least expect it, YOU will remind me that I'm only human.
Action for the Day: I will share with a friend one or two
stories about funny mistakes I've made.
Big Book
"The delusion that we are like other people, or presently
may be, has to be smashed." (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About
Alcoholism, Page 30)
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If you're not enjoying your sobriety it's your own damn fault
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