Daily Ponderables: Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny - Duke Paddock (thanks Cheryl T.) & Daily Reflections for Friday, 14 February 2014 "EXPECTATIONS VS. DEMANDS"

Daily Ponderables: Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny - Duke Paddock (thanks Cheryl T.) & Daily Reflections for Friday, 14 February 2014 "EXPECTATIONS VS. DEMANDS"
This is a recording of former Toledo, Ohio early Alcoholics Anonymous member, Duke Paddock. This appears to be a prepared statement that Duke is reading from in Jacksonville, Florida because he was not able to attend an upcoming AA event, possibly the 1995 World Services Conference in San Diego, California. As Duke speaks, it’s clear that he put a lot of thought into it. Duke was 89 years old at the time and believes that he is the oldest living member of AA at that time. 
He tells about being inspired by the Rollie Hemsley anonymity break. He tells about going into Akron City Hospital under Doctor Bob’s care. Duke talks about knowing several of the early Big Book Story authors such as, Jim Scott, Bill Van Horn, and Wally Gilliam. Duke tells about making his first twelfth step call after being in the program for only 36 hours. He was present at the very first AA meeting in Youngstown, Ohio that Dr Bob helped set up. Duke recollects the many meetings he attended at King’s School in Akron and the contributions that Anne Smith made. He talks quite a bit about the four absolutes. 
http://www.mediafire.com/?11ul0dgryh0es9b
"We recover by the Steps we take, NOT the meetings we make"
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Daily Reflections for Friday, 14 February 2014 "EXPECTATIONS VS. DEMANDS"
Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house.--ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, page 98
Dealing with expectations is a frequent topic at meetings. It isn't wrong to expect progress of myself, good things from life, or decent treatment from others. Where I get into trouble is when my expectations become demands. I will fall short of what I wish to be and situations will go in ways I do not like, because people will let me down sometimes. The only question is: What am I going to do about it?" Wallow in self-pity or anger; retaliate and make a bad situation worse; or will I trust in God's power to bring blessings on the messes in which I find myself? Will I ask Him what I should be learning; do I keep on doing the right things I know how to do, no matter what; do I take the time to share my faith and blessings with others?--From the book Daily Reflections © Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought for the Day
After that first drink, we had a single track mind. It was like a railroad train. The first drink started it off and it kept going on the single track until it got to the end of the line, drunkenness. We alcoholics knew this was the inevitable result when we took the first drink, but still we couldn't keep away from liquor. Our willpower was gone. We had become helpless and hopeless before the power of alcohol. It's not the second drink or the tenth drink that does the damage. It's the first drink. Will I ever take that first drink again?
Meditation for the Day
I must keep a time apart with God every day. Gradually I will be transformed mentally and spiritually. It is not the praying so much as just being in God's presence. The strengthening and curative powers of this I cannot understand, because such knowledge is beyond human understanding, but I can experience them. The poor, sick world would be cured if every day each soul waited before God for the inspiration to live aright. My greatest spiritual growth occurs in this time apart with God.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may faithfully keep a quiet time apart with God. I pray that I may grow spiritually each day.--From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day © Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation
NA - Just for Today
Honesty and spirituality--Page 46
"The right to a God of your understanding is total and without any catches. Because we have this right, it is necessary to be honest about our belief if we are to grow spiritually."--Basic Text, pages 25-26
In meetings, over refreshments, in talks with our sponsor, we hear our NA friends talking about the way they understand their Higher Power. It would be easy to "go with the flow," adopting someone else's beliefs. But just as no one else can recover for us, so no one else's spirituality can substitute for our own. We must honestly search for an understanding of God that truly works for us. 
Many of us begin that search with prayer and meditation, and continue with our experiences in recovery. Have there been instances where we have been given power beyond our own to face life's challenges? When we have quietly sought direction in times of trouble, have we found it? What kind of Power do we believe has guided and strengthened us? What kind of Power do we seek? With the answers to these questions, we will understand our Higher Power well enough to feel safe and confident about asking it to care for our will and lives. 
A borrowed understanding of God may do on a short haul. But in the long run, we must come to our own understanding of a Higher Power, for it is that Power which will carry us through our recovery.
Just for Today: I seek a Power greater than myself that can help me grow spiritually. Today, I will examine my beliefs honestly and come to my own understanding of God.--From the book Just for Today © Copyright 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Thought for Today
"Life is overflowing with the new. But it is necessary to empty out the old to make room for the new to enter."--Eileen Caddy
Buddha/Zen Thoughts
As rain seeps into
an ill-thatched hut,
so passion,
the undeveloped mind.
As rain doesn't seep into
a well-thatched hut,
so passion does not,
the well-developed mind.--Dhammapada, 1, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Native American
"Sometimes, life is very simple, but it is we two-leggeds, we who are thought to be smart that make it complicated."--Larry P. Aitkin, CHIPPEWA
Sometimes it may take years for us to find out what we are really after-it is to be happy. The Elders say, lead a simple life. This doesn't necessarily mean poor, it means simple. There are some things that makes life complicated such as needing control, needing power or being resentful or angry. These things make complications happen. We need to walk in balance in every area of our lives.
Great Spirit, let me lead a simple life. 
Keep It Simple
Some things have to be believed to be seen.--Ralph Hodgson
In recovery, we learn to trust. We trust that our Higher Power is on our side. Maybe we can't see our Higher Power , but once we start trusting things change. Step Two says, "Came to believe. . . " Once we come to believe, we start to see our Higher Power working in many ways. We make new program friends. We find new peace. Our family and friends trust us again. Life won't always be fair. We won't get all we want. But we'll find the love and care we need. If we're open to believing in love, the easy times will be easier and the harder times a bit softer. Do I believe in love?
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me believe, especially when times are hard. Help me not blame You for the hard times.
Action for the Day: I will write what I believe the program and my Higher Power want for me.
Big Book
"We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. 'Do I now
believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power
greater than myself?' As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built."--Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, page 47
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AA HISTORY FOR FEBRUARY (thanks Cheryl T)
February 1: 
1918: Original date set for Bill Wilson's marriage to Lois Burnham. The date was moved up because of the war.
1942: Ruth Hock, A.A.'s 1st paid secretary, resigns to get married.
February 2:
1942: Bill Wilson paid tribute to Ruth Hock, she had written approximately 15,000 letters to people who were asking for help. 
February 5:
1941: Pittsburgh Telegram ran a story on the first A.A. group's Friday night meeting of a dozen "former hopeless drunks."
February 8:
1940:
-Bill W. & Dr. Bob & six other A.A.'s asked 60 rich friends of John D. Rockefeller Jr., for money @ the Union Club, N.Y. They got $2,000.
-Houston Press ran first of 6 anonymous articles on A.A. by Larry J.
February 9:
2002: Sue Smith Windows, Dr. Bob's daughter died.
February 10:
1922: Harold E. Hughes was born on a farm near Ida Grove, Iowa. After his recovery from alcoholism, he became Governor of Iowa, a United States Senator, & the leading dark horse for the Presidential Democratic nomination in 1972, until he announced he would not run. He authored the legislation which created the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, & other legislation to help alcoholics & addicts.
February 11:
1938: Clarence Snyder "Home Brewmeister" in 1st, 2nd & 3rd editions had his last drink.
February 12:
1945: World War II paper shortage forced reduction in size of the Big Book.
February 13:
1937: Oxford Groups "Alcoholic Squadron" met @ the home of Hank Parkhurst ("The Unbeliever" in the 1st edition of the Big Book) in N.J. 
1940: With about two years of sobriety, Jim Burwell ("The Vicious Cycle") moved to the Philadelphia area & formed the first Philadelphia A.A. group. 
February 14:
1971: A.A. groups worldwide held a memorial service for Bill Wilson.
2000: William Y., "California Bill" died in Winston Salem, NC.
February 15:
1918: Sue Smith Windows, Dr. Bob's adopted daughter, was born.
1946: A.A. Tribune, Des Moines, IA, reported 36 new members since Marty Mann had been there. 
February 16:
1941: Baltimore Sunday Sun reported city's first A.A. group begun in 1940 had grown from 3 to 40 members, with five being women.
February 18:
1943: A.A.'s were granted the right to use cars for 12 step work in emergency cases, despite gas rationing.
February 19:
1967: Father "John Doe" (Ralph Pfau), 1st Catholic Priest in A.A., died.
February 20:
1941: The Toledo Blade published first of three articles on A.A. by Seymour Rothman.
February 21:
1939: 400 copies of the Big Book manuscript were sent to doctors, judges, psychiatrists, & others for comment. This was the "multilith" Big Book.
February 22:
1842: Abe Lincoln addressed the Washington Temperance Society in Springfield, IL. 
February 23:
1959: A.A. granted "Recording for the Blind" permission to tape the Big Book.
February 24:
2002: Hal Marley, "Dr. Attitude of Gratitude," died. He had 37 years of sobriety. Hal testified, anonymously, before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse on December 3, 1970.
February 26:
1999: Felicia Gizycka, author of "Stars Don't Fall," died. Born Countess Felicia Gizycka in 1905, she was the daughter of Count Josef Gizycki & Eleanor Medill Patterson. She married Drew Pearson in 1925 & divorced him three years later. She married Dudley DeLavigne in 1934, but the marriage lasted less than a year. In 1958 she married John Kennedy Magruder & divorced him in 1964. For most of her professional career, she went by the name Felicia Gizycka. 
February 28:
1940: First organization meeting of Philadelphia A.A. was held at McCready Huston's room @ 2209 Delancy Street.
Other February happenings for which we have no specific date:
1908: Bill Wilson made boomerang.
1916: Bill Wilson & sophomore class @ Norwich University was suspended for hazing.
1938: Rockefeller loaned $5,000 to A.A..
1939: 
-Dr. Harry Tiebout endorsed A.A., the first psychiatrist to do so.
-Dr Howard of Montclair, NJ suggests swapping "you musts" for "we ought" in the Big Book. 
1940: 1st A.A. clubhouse opened @ 334-1/2 West 24th Street, NYC.
1943: San Francisco Bulletin reporter Marsh Masline interviewed Ricardo, a San Quentin Prison A.A. group member.
1946: 
-Baton Rouge, La., A.A.'s hold their first anniversary meeting.
-The A.A. Grapevine reported the New York Seaman's Group issued a pamphlet for seamen "on one page the 12 Steps had been streamlined into 5."
-Des Moines Committee for Education on Alcoholism aired its first show on KRNT.
-Pueblo, Colorado had a second group, composed of alcoholic State Hospital patients.
1951: Fortune magazine article about A.A. was published in pamphlet form. 
1959: A.A. granted "Recording for the Blind" permission to tape the Big Book.
1963: Harpers Magazine published an article critical of A.A. 
1981: 1st issue of "Markings," A.A. Archives Newsletter, was published, "to give the Fellowship a sense of its own
past & the opportunity to study it."
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If you're not enjoying your Sobriety it's your own damn fault!
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