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A Prayer & Some Thoughts - October
October 1
Today's Prayer Lord, Shape me this day in ways that are in keeping with your will and purposes. When I am weary, please lift me up. When I am drawing inward, show me the way to community and serving. When I am confused, grant a clarity that cuts through the many things that masquerade as truth. When I am feeling alone, keep me company. I ask you for this gift of hope to sustain and strengthen me. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Step Two is, "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." Step Three is, "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him." Step Eleven is, "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out." The fundamental basis of A.A. is a belief in some Power greater than ourselves. Let us not take this lightly. We cannot fully get the program without this venture of belief. So ............ Have I made the venture of belief in a Power greater than my own? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Freedom in Acceptance When we accept ourselves, with all our imperfections, we can then begin to accept others just as they are. This is especially exciting when we apply this discovery to our own families. A family is like a bouquet of flowers arranged in a common vase. Each flower is different. It isn't important that we know why one flower is blue and one white. We don't have to understand how a rose becomes a rose to appreciate the arrangement. We just accept it for what it is. Acceptance of others does not mean agreement or approval. How boring if we only accepted those who reflected our own ideas and opinions! How dull to look upon a bouquet of exactly the same flowers. Today, I will accept the differences between us as part of our beauty together. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Antidote For Fear When our failings generate fear, we then have soul-sickness. This sickness, in turn, generates still more character defects. Unreasonable fear that our instincts will not be satisfied drives us to covet the possessions of others, to lust for sex and power, to become angry when our instinctive demands are threatened, to be envious when the ambitions of others seem to be realized while ours are not. We eat, drink, and grab for more of everything than we need, fearing we shall never have enough. And, with genuine alarm at the prospect of work, we stay lazy. We loaf and procrastinate, or at best work grudgingly and under half steam. These fears are the termites that ceaselessly devour the foundations of whatever sort of life we try to build. As Bill Sees It Page 196 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “The heart of human excellence often begins to beat when you discover a pursuit that absorbs you, frees you, challenges you, or gives you a sense of meaning, joy, or passion.” ~~ Terry Orlick |
October 2
Prayer On Unrest There are times, O Lord, when I feel a deep sense of unrest. Trials and tribulations beset me, and I do not know where to turn. I cannot see the reason why suffering must exist, but I do trust in you. I pray that you will guide me in all ways and help me to make the best of the situation. Help me to find happiness in the small things. I pray that you bring me the peace and joy that I seek in life. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Over a period of drinking years, we've proved to ourselves and to everybody else that we can't stop drinking by our own willpower. We have been proved helpless before the power of alcohol. So the only way we could stop drinking was by turning to a Power greater than ourselves. We call that Power God. The time that you really get this program is when you get down on your knees and surrender yourself to God, as you understand Him. Surrender means putting your life into God's hands. So ............ Have I made a promise to God that I will try to live the way He wants me to live? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Thoughts We control our thoughts by controlling our self talk. At any moment we choose we can talk to ourselves differently. The fight comes with the emotions that are attached to our thoughts. If our emotion is high and seems to be out of control, we can say to ourselves STOP IT!, take a few deep breaths, then ask the Creator for the right thought or the right decision or the right action. If we practice this for a while, our thought life will be different. It helps if in the morning we ask God to direct our thinking. God loves to help us. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Resolving Fear Fear somehow touched about every aspect of our lives. It was an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it. It set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune we felt we didn't deserve. But did we not often set the ball rolling ourselves? Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 67-68 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “People have to be responsible for their thoughts, so they have to learn to control them. It may not be easy, but it can be done.” -- Rolling Thunder, Cherokee |
October 3
Irritation Prayer Lord, I confess my irritation with those who bully their way with words, who fail to take responsibility for their actions, who think no one sees what they do in the shadows, and who live in a world of denial. I’m angry and scared and tired of doing the right thing. Strengthen my heart so that I not lose hope. Let me not become ones of those that cause irritation. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We must turn to a Higher Power for help, because we are helpless ourselves. When we put our drink problem in God's hands and leave it there, we have made the most important decision of our lives. From then on, we trust God for the strength to keep sober. This takes us off the center of the universe and allows us to transfer our problems to a Power outside ourselves. By prayer and meditation, we seek to improve our conscious contact with God. We try to live each day the way we believe God wants us to live. So ............ Am I trusting God for the strength to stay sober? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Hurrying up to wait We often urge ourselves to hurry up when there's no good reason for it. At such times, all we really do is create needless tension and anxiety. It's not hurrying, but steady effort that finally brings achievement. We've had entirely too much hurry and impatience. What we really need is confident, persistent effort in the right direction. We see anxious, impatient people speeding through traffic only to be forced to wait at traffic lights, risking life and limb to save a few seconds. A good steady pace is what we need, and it will win the game. I’ll try to be active, but not overactive. I'll look for rhythm and efficiency in everything I do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Benign Anarchy and Democracy When we come into A.A. we find a greater personal freedom than any other society knows. We cannot be compelled to do anything. In that sense our Society is a benign anarchy. The word "anarchy" has a bad meaning to most of us. But I think that the idealist who first advocated the concept felt that if only men were granted absolute liberty, and were compelled to obey no one, they would then voluntarily associate themselves in the common interest. A.A. is an association of the benign sort he envisioned. But when we had to go into action--to function as groups--we discovered that we also had to become a democracy. As our oldtimers retired, we therefore began to elect our trusted servants by majority vote. Each group in this sense became a town meeting. All plans for group action had to be approved by the majority. This meant that no single individual could appoint himself to act for his group or for A.A. as a whole. Neither dictatorship nor paternalism was for us. A.A. Comes Of Age Pages 224-225 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it." -- Ralph Ellison |
Octber 4
Prayer for This Day God, I’m agitated and doubtful right now. Help me to stop and remember that I’ve made a decision to let You be my God. Give me the right thoughts and actions. God save me from fear, anger, worry, self-pity or foolish decisions that Your will, not mine be done. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Step Four is, "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." Step Five is, "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our, wrongs." Step Six is, "Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character." Step Seven is, "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings." Step Ten is, "Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it." In taking a personal inventory, we have to be absolutely honest with ourselves and with other people. So ............ Have I taken an honest inventory of myself? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Order Busy people often declare, with some exasperation, that they cannot do everything at once. People with emotional problems, often feel that they are trying to do everything at once. Quite often, this pressure means that we waste our time fretting about all the things facing us, becoming totally ineffective as a result. In every situation or problem, there is always one step we can take that is more important than the others. Following that, we find a step of second importance, another of third importance, and so on. Sometimes, a certain action comes first simply because other things depend on it. If we have to reduce our activities, we can decide which few ought to retain. Having made these decisions, we can be at peace about our choices. We cannot do everything at once and we need not feel guilty about it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Light From A Prayer "God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference." We treasure our "Serenity Prayer" because it brings a new light to us that can dissipate our oldtime and nearly fatal habit of fooling ourselves. In the radiance of this prayer we see that defeat, rightly accepted, need be no disaster. We now know that we do not have to run away, nor ought we again try to overcome adversity by still another bulldozing drive that can only push up obstacles before us faster than they can be taken down. “As Bill Sees It” Page 20 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “To experience peace does not mean that your life is always blissful. It means that you are capable of tapping into a blissful state of mind amidst the normal chaos of a hectic life.” -- Jill Bolte Taylor |
October 5
A Prayer For Strength Lord, please strengthen our hearts, and remind us to encourage one another when the troubles of life start to overwhelm us. Please guard our hearts from depression. Give us the strength up to rise up each day and fight against the struggles which seek to weigh us down. Amen. -- John Barnett ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought In taking a personal inventory of ourselves, we have to face facts as we really are. We have to stop running away. We must face reality. We must see ourselves as we really are. We must admit our faults openly and try to correct them. We must try to see where we have been dishonest, impure, selfish, and unloving. We do not do this once and forget it. We do it every day of our lives, as long as we live. We are never done with checking up on ourselves. So ............ Am I taking a daily inventory of myself ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Letting Go of Urgency One thing at a time. That's all we have to do. Not two things at once, but one thing done in peace. One task at a time. One feeling at a time. One day at a time. One problem at a time. One step at a time. One pleasure at a time. Relax. Let go of urgency. Begin calmly now. Take one thing at a time. See how everything works out? I will peacefully approach one thing at a time. When in doubt, I will take first things first. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guard Against A Slip Suppose we fall short of our chosen ideals 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. If we are sorry for what we have done, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink. These are facts out of our experience. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 70 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Don’t try to force anything. Let life be a deep let-go. God opens millions of flowers every day without forcing their buds.” —- Osho |
October 6
A Prayer For Uncertain Times Lord God, In this time of bewilderment and fear, we ask you to give us the courage to take care of one another. For those who are ill, especially those who are frightened and alone, for those who cannot access healthcare, for those who are homeless and lost, hear our prayer! In the midst of our sadness and grief, we ask you to give us words to comfort one another. For those who are dying, and for those who have already died from this virus, for those who tend them and for those with no one to tend them, hear our prayer! In the midst of our own anxiety we ask you to give us the courage to support one another as you would. For those who are unexpectedly unemployed, for employers who share what they can, for our government and financial institutions and those who lead them, hear our prayer! In the midst of our struggle to ensure a healthy future for all who live on this planet, we ask you to give us the hope that surpasses our current understanding. For healthcare workers, spiritual leaders and our faith communities, for artists and poets, for prophets and teachers, hear our prayer! In the midst of our growing awareness that all life on Earth is connected, we ask for the heart to respect and cherish all life. That all peoples recognize that we are all your children, hear our prayer! We trust in you and your power working in us. Please hear and answer our prayers. Amen! Amen! -Sister Cynthia Serjak, RSM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Making amends and restitution for the wrongs we have done is often very difficult. It hurts our pride. But the rewards are great. When we go to a person and say we are sorry, the reaction we get is almost invariably good. It takes courage to make the plunge, but the results more than justify it. A load is off your chest and often an enemy has been turned into a friend. So ............ Have I done my best to make all the amends and restitution possible? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Being Human Being human means we'll have hard times along with pleasant ones. Whether with friends, at school, or at home, we'll find reasons for sadness or anger as easily as for laughter. In every part of our lives, we're offered just what we need for growth. Being the best we know how to be doesn't mean we'll escape confusion or pain. Through the troubling times we learn to trust in a Higher Power; we learn patience; we learn to let go and let God decide outcomes. The troubling times offer us growth and serenity, our keys to happiness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Loners"--but Not Alone What can be said of many A.A. members who, for a variety of reasons, cannot have a family life? At first many of these feel lonely, hurt, and left out as they witness so much domestic happiness about them. If they cannot have this kind of happiness, can A.A. offer them satisfactions of similar worth and durability? Yes-- whenever they try hard to seek out these satisfactions. Surrounded by so many A.A. friends, the so-called loners tell us they no longer feel alone. In partnership with others--women and men--they can devote themselves to any number of ideas, people, and constructive projects. They can participate in enterprises which would be denied to family men and women. We daily see such members render prodigies of service, and receive great joys in return. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 120 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “It’s amazing what we can do if we will trust God enough to step out of our comfort zones!” -- Brett Harris |
October 7
Tolerance Prayer Lord, give me tolerance towards those whose thoughts and ways, in the Program and life, conflict with mine. For though I would, I cannot always know what constitutes the Absolute Truth. The other person may be right, while I may be all wrong, yet unaware. Lord, make my motives right, for only this can ease my conscience when I sometimes err. Lord, give me tolerance, for who am I to stand in judgment on another person's mistakes? No one knows better than my inward self how many little blunders I have and can make. Life is full of stones that somehow trip us, and meaning not, we stumble now and then. Lord, give me tolerance, for only you are rightly fit to judge my fellow travelers. (From: Global Steps, Bristol, CT) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs." The basis of our effectiveness in carrying the message to others is the reality of our own spiritual awakening. If we have not changed, we cannot be used to change others. To keep this program, we must pass it on to others. We cannot hoard it for ourselves. We may lose it unless we give it away. It cannot flow into us and stop; it must continue to flow into us as it flows out to others. So ............ Am I always ready to give away what I have learned in A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Tolerance Tolerate our quirks, our feelings, our reactions, our peculiarities, and our humanness. Tolerate our ups and downs, our resistance to change, and our struggling and sometimes awkward nature. Tolerate our fears, our mistakes, our natural tendency to duck from problems, and pain. Tolerate our hesitancy to get close, expose ourselves, and be vulnerable. Tolerate our need to occasionally feel superior, to sometimes feel ashamed, and to occasionally share love as an equal. Tolerate the way we progress - a few steps forward, and a couple back. Tolerate our instinctive desire to control and how we reluctantly learn to practice detachment. Tolerate the way we say we want love, and then sometimes push others away. Tolerate our tendency to get obsessive, forget to trust God, and occasionally get stuck. Some things we do not tolerate. Do not tolerate abusive or destructive behaviors toward others or ourselves. Practice healthy, loving tolerance of ourselves, said one man. When we do, we'll learn tolerance for others. Then, take it one step further; learn that all the humanness we're tolerating is what makes ourselves and others beautiful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tolerance & Acceptance Tolerance is a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry. Tolerance is a virtue. It is a version of the golden rule in that, insofar as we want others to treat us decently, we need to treat them decently as well. Acceptance in human psychology is a person's assent to the reality of a situation, recognizing a process or condition (often a negative or uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it, protest, or exit. Acceptance goes a step beyond tolerance. If a sign of tolerance is a feeling of “I can live with X (behavior, religion, race, culture, etc.),” then acceptance moves beyond that in the direction of “X is OK.” You can tolerate something without accepting it, but you cannot accept something without tolerating it. -- Jefferson M Fish https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/looking-in-the-cultural-mirror/201402/tolerance-acceptance-understanding ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Few Quotes "Tolerance is the positive and cordial effort to understand another's beliefs, practices, and habits without necessarily sharing or accepting them." -- Joshua Liebman "Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others." -- John F. Kennedy |
October 8
Prayer for This Day Lord, Please keep me safe From all danger, hurt, and harm. Help me to start this day and every day With a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day, To clear my mind so that I can follow your will. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Everyone who comes into A.A. knows from bitter experience that he or she can't drink. I know that drinking has been the cause of all my major troubles or has made them worse. Now that I have found a way out, I will hang on to A.A. with both hands. Saint Paul once said that nothing in the world, neither powers nor principles, life nor death, could separate him from the love of God. So ............ Once I have given my drink problem to God, should anything in the world separate me from my sobriety? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Problems With Others Do our problems with other people really started within ourselves? If we have trouble getting along with another person, for example, is it because we are projecting mixed signals of fear and suspicion toward that person? We tend to reap what we sow----- we get back the attitudes we project. However, we can't take total responsibility for the way others treat us or behave toward us. We cannot reform or control impossible people. When dealing with impossible people, we have control over our own feelings and responses. This helps us avoid potential trouble and enables us to deal with difficult situations. A simple change of attitude on our part can bring startling changes for the better, in our responses to others. With practice, the principle also applies to the broad area of human relations in many ways. So, I will take care today to see that my thoughts and feeling toward others reflect what I want in my own life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A New Life Regardless of worldly success or failure, regardless of pain or joy, regardless of sickness or health or even of death itself, a new life of endless possibilities can be lived if we are willing to continue our awakening, through the practice of A.A.'s Twelve Steps. As Bill Sees It Page 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "There were times my immaturity kept me from being all I wanted to be." -- Len Elmore |
October 9
Prayer To Live Well Today Lord, Your Word tells me not to worry about my life or the things of tomorrow. Forgive me for my lack of confidence in Your daily guidance and Your ability to work everything into something good. Please help me to deal with those things I can, and make changes where necessary. Help me to leave those things I cannot change in Your care. I choose to seek first your will, as I live one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought As we learn to live one day at a time, it's essential that we come to God with a willingness and intention to surrender our will and our life into His care. What does this way of living daily surrendered to God look like? 1. ONGOING FORGIVENESS: It's important to daily confess our sins and receive God’s mercy, forgiveness, and fresh cleansing. 2. DAILY GETTING TO KNOW GOD'S WILL: What are we doing from day to day, even moment by moment, to train ourselves to listen and respond to the Word of God? What tools are we using to help us learn and grow? In what ways are we challenging ourselves to do what needs to be done, particularly when we don’t feel like doing it? 3. MAKING GOD'S AGENDA FOR ME, MY AGENDA FOR TODAY: Our new life in recovery may differ from the way of life we see many people in our society exhibit. Some people make power, prestige, or money their idol. In the past some of us made sex, drugs, and alcohol our idols. Today, all of us are invited to make God's priorities our priorities, and in so doing gain a life that is good, pleasing, and perfect. One of the greatest gifts of this new life in recovery is that having had a spiritual awakening we can now share this message of hope with others who "silently suffer" in what appears to be reasonably good life circumstances. Amazing but true, living one day at a time in relationship with God, is the only lifestyle that results in a truly good, pleasing and perfect life for all – the wealthy and the poor. 4. GIVE UP WORRY AND REGRET: It is easy to slide into worrying about tomorrow, dwelling on the "what ifs" and the "if onlys" of our life. It is tempting to deny present happenings and try to escape reality. This is part of the insanity of an addict’s way of life. Each day brings with it a host of things which we personally cannot change. We need to come to terms with the limitations of our humanity. We are human beings confined within the slice of time we call today. We have some training, certain talents, and a few resources. God has promised to take care of all our todays and tomorrows. We simply need to live one day at a time under His guidance and care to ensure it all works well, according to His plan. (from: Vancouver Area Recovery Meetings) So ............ How am I doing ?? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Abstinence By abstaining from compulsive behavior, we are doing ourselves the biggest favor imaginable. We are literally saving our lives, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We should never think of abstinence as punishment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Be Willing We reviewed our own conduct over the years past. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, or inconsiderate? Whom had we hurt? Did we unjustifiably arouse jealousy, suspicion or bitterness? Where were we at fault, what should we have done instead? We got this all down on paper and looked at it. In this way we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future sex life. We subjected each relation to this test - was it selfish or not? We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them. We remembered always that our sex powers were God-given and therefore good, neither to be used lightly or selfishly nor to be despised and loathed. Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we must be willing to grow toward it. We must be willing to make amends where we have done harm, provided that we do not bring about still more harm in so doing. In other words, we treat sex as we would any other problem. In meditation, we ask God what we should do about each specific matter. The right answer will come, if we want it. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 69 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Thinking is difficult, that’s why most people judge." -- Carl Jung |
October 2
Prayer When Things Seem Hopeless & Chaotic Lord, some days my world seems to be spinning out of control. Everywhere I look, I see chaos—even in my own life. There are days where I long to just throw in the towel and say, "Enough." Where can I turn? Who can I talk to? Give me a new perspective, Lord, and blow away the cobwebs that keep cluttering my mind and my vision. Every time I'm tempted to become discouraged or depressed because of negative events or situations, help me to gain that new perspective. With your perspective, I can push past the impossible and find the strength and courage to believe that no matter what happens, your hope will lift me to a higher plane—where joy and purpose reign again. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought When we were drinking most of us were full of pride and selfishness. We believed we could handle our own affairs, even though we were making a mess of our lives. We were very stubborn and didn't like to take advice. We resented being told what to do. To us, humility looked like weakness. But when we came into A.A., we began to be humble. And we found out that humility gave us the power we needed to overcome drinking. So ............ Have I learned that there is power in humility? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Miracles Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minute-a-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe. (from: Wayne Dyer) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tolerance Finally, we begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to some extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong. When this happens, we approach true tolerance and we see what real love for our fellows actually means. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 92 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and your faith stronger than your feelings.” -- Unknown |
October 11
Prayer to Awaken The Dawn Dear Lord, Sometimes I arise before dawn, I awake in the darkness but know that the light will emerge. I wait on you Lord in hard times, just like those dark mornings when my heart feels cold, when I need to trust that the dawn will break, that light, life and love will shine bright. Help me to remember at these times that morning has broken through the darkness, and to trust you with the anxieties, fears and grief of the night. I will draw near to you, I will wait for the dawn. -- Thomas Traherne ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought ...........practice these principles in all our affairs. We do not just practice these principles in regard to our drinking problem. We practice them in all our affairs. We do not give one compartment of our lives to God and keep the other compartments to ourselves. We give our whole lives to God and we try to do His will in every respect. "Herein lies our growth, herein lies all the promise of the future, an ever widening horizon. So ............ Do I carry the A.A. principles with me wherever I go? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Decision Making Self-pity is often rooted in the strong feeling that people or conditions have victimized us. "I never had a chance" and "You deceived me!" are common complaints that reveal self-pity. It is astonishing and humbling to learn that we always have choices, even when other people or bad conditions are grinding us down. We choose our attitudes and responses. We have neither the power nor the right to control others, but we can choose to soften our attitudes toward them, and we can forgive and release people we don't like. We can always choose how we want to think and feel. It may take effort to break the habit of feeling victimized and sorry for ourselves, but our higher power will show us the way if we decide that is what we really want. I can always make choices that will enhance my life and place me on a better footing for the days ahead. Nobody can ruffle my feathers today or make me feel oppressed and victimized. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy, Joyous and Free We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free. We cannot subscribe to the belief that this life is a vale of tears, though it once was just that for many of us. But it is clear that we made our own misery. God didn't do it. Avoid then, the deliberate manufacture of misery, but if trouble comes, cheerfully capitalize it as an opportunity to demonstrate His omnipotence. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 133 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Few Quotes “In life, you can blame a lot of people and you can wallow in self-pity or you can pick yourself up and say listen, I have to be responsible for myself.” -- Howard Schultz “Discontent, blaming, complaining, self-pity cannot serve as a foundation for a good future, no matter how much effort you make.” -- Eckhart Tolle https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pr...P6=w5000-h5000 |
October 12
The Prayer for Today Just for today, help me, God, to remember that my life is a gift, that my health is a blessing, that this new day is filled with awesome potential, that I have the capacity to bring something wholly new and unique and good into this world. Just for today, help me, God, to remember to be kind and patient to the people who love me, and to those who are around me. Teach me to see all the beauty that I so often ignore, and to listen to the silent longing of my own soul. Just for today, help me, God, to remember You are in charge. Let this be a good day, God, full of joy and love. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought The term "spiritual experience" as given in Appendix II of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous: "A spiritual experience is something that brings about a personality change. By surrendering our lives to God as we understand Him, we are changed. The nature of this change is evident in recovered alcoholics. This personality change is not necessarily in the nature of a sudden and spectacular upheaval. We do not need to acquire an immediate ad overwhelming God consciousness, followed at once by a vast change in feeling and outlook. In most cases, the change is gradual. So ............ Do I see a gradual and continuing change in myself? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Difficult Circumstances All of us have some difficult circumstances to face. We have many uncontrollable circumstances in our lives, but we don't have to give ourselves over to them. We are always within the circle of God's love. Always! Knowing that helps us make peace with the limits on what we can do about our situations. Then we can go forth working to make peace in our relationships, accomplish what is possible in our lives, and make a contribution to others. The frustrations around me are not all of who I am. When I am at peace within, I live among spiritual riches. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No Guarantee Sobriety is no guarantee that the recovering alcoholic will become a wise sage, but it is almost certain that trying not to repeat their past follies will make them a little smarter. It is suggested that anyone who is trying to stay sober should go to the meetings of A. A. because the disease of alcoholism has a built in forgetter and those who forget their past follies are usually doomed to repeat them. Today, show everyone how wise you are by practicing the spiritual principles in all of your affairs. Recovery is one day at a time. Sobriety is a blessing from our Higher Power. (Not sure of the source) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Few Quotes “No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.” -- Barbara de Angelis “Sometimes you have to do what’s best for you and your life, not what’s best for everyone else.” -- Anonymous A.A. |
October 13
A Prayer for a Heavy Heart Father, my heart is heavy. I feel like I have to carry the burden alone. Words like overwhelmed, distraught, exhausted seem to describe where I am. I am not sure how to let you carry my heavy load, so please show me how. Take it from me. Let me rest and be refreshed so that my heart won’t be so heavy in the morning. Amen. -- Ron Moore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought For most of us, our spiritual experiences are of the educational variety, and they develop slowly over a period of time. Quite often friends of newcomers are aware of the difference long before they are themselves. They finally realize that they have undergone a profound alteration in their reaction to life and that such a change could hardly have been brought about by themselves alone. So ............ Is my outlook on life changing for the better? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Character Defects We are inclined to feel that our problems and difficulties are largely due to circumstances and other people. We see that the root of our difficulty lies in being centered on self. Our egos can take us only so far before we reach a point where continued growth demands that we begin to abandon them. It is a relief to get rid of the anxiety, frustration, and fear that goes with an ego-centered life! Focusing on our "God" removes our character defects as we become willing to let go of them. Honest awareness is our first task, and this is facilitated by maintaining abstinence from compulsive behavior. As we change, circumstances and relationships improve. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Better Than Gold As newcomers, many of us have indulged in spiritual intoxication. Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last ounce of food, we saw our pick strike gold. Joy at our release from a lifetime of frustration knew no bounds. The newcomer feels he has struck something better than gold. He may not see at once that he has barely scratched the limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for the rest of his life and insists on giving away the entire product. Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 128-129 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” -- David Brinkley |
October 14
Gratitude Prayer Thank you God for another day For helping me live in a decent way Thank you for the joy of living And the happiness that comes from giving Teach me to wake to the morning sun With the prayer 'Thy Will Be Done' Thank you God for another day Thank you God for AA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought It is essential that the A.A. program become part of us. We must have its essentials at our fingertips. We cannot study the Big Book too much or too often. The more we read it and study it, the better equipped we are to think A.A., act A.A., and live A.A. We cannot know too much about the program. The chances are that we will never know enough. But we can make as much of it our own as possible. So ........... How much of the Big Book have I thoroughly mastered? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Human Race Try to remember that we're part of a larger fellowship called " the human race." We all hurt the same. We all love the same. We all need understanding and care. Yet, in other ways, we are not all the same. Let's remember to understand differences among people. If not, we'll be afraid of anyone who's not like us. And this isn't God's way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Conviction and Compromise One qualification for a useful life is give-and-take, the ability to compromise cheerfully. Compromise comes hard to us "all or nothing" drunks. Nevertheless, we must never lose sight of the fact that progress is nearly always characterized by a series of improving compromises. Of course, we cannot always compromise. There are circumstances in which it is necessary to stick flat-footed to one's convictions until the issue is resolved. Deciding when to compromise and when not to compromise always calls for the most careful discrimination. "As Bill Sees It" Page 59 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Compromise is not about losing. It is about deciding that the other person has just as much right to be happy with the end result as you do." -- Donna Martini |
October 15
Prayer When Lonely Lord, there is so much swirling all around me begging for my attention – people, places, things, tasks. Still, in the midst of it all, I feel so alone—as if I stand in this swirling vortex by myself. For whatever reason, though people surround me, I’m unable to connect with them. It seems that when I try to open up, I am rejected and this rejection insulates me from ever trying again. For now I feel so alone. Lord, right now I need this feeling of loneliness to diminish. Help me to reach out to those around me, help me to do so with boldness. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Spiritual experience: With few exceptions, our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource, which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves. Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves the essence of spiritual experience. Some of us call it God consciousness. In any case, willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. So ............ Have I tapped that inner resource which can change my life? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Honest Admission Out of honest admission of our weakness comes strength. We are able to see ourselves realistically and with clarity. When we are humble enough to admit our wrongs, we get rid of the false front we had tried to maintain. This frees us to be who we are, without pretense. When we admit our faults, we are cleansed. We no longer have to try to hide and cover up our weaknesses and mistakes. Instead of pretending to be perfect, we can be human and satisfied with our progress. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Irrational I well remember the shock I received when a prominent doctor in Chicago told me of cases where pressure of the spinal fluid actually ruptured the brain. No wonder an alcoholic is strangely irrational. Who wouldn't be, with such a fevered brain? Normal drinkers are not so affected, nor can they understand the aberrations of the alcoholic. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 140 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone." -- Robin Williams |
October 16
Prayer When Frustrated Lord, I feel so frustrated I just want to scream out ‘aargh’ but I can’t even do that. I try to get through to others what it’s like, but I can’t. I try to tell them how I feel, but they don’t understand. I try to tell them what I want, what I need, but I can’t get through. It’s all so hopeless. I don’t know why I even bother trying. I hate being helpless: I like to be doing things and relating to people, but I can’t. I just lie here, stuck, unable to do anything about my situation. Anxiously I look for signs of hope, signs that the future might be brighter. Any glimmer of light is seized upon, but the joy is short-lived because the struggle is so intense, the frustration so great. Don’t leave me, Lord. I need you like I’ve never needed you before. At least you know what I’m thinking, how I’m feeling. And I know that I am not alone, not really alone, at all. Help me to endure the unendurable, give me the courage to keep on trying— again and again and again— so that I don’t sink into the pit of black despair. Amen. -- Helen Prior ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We need to check up on ourselves periodically. Just how good an A.A. am I? Am I attending meetings regularly? Am I doing my share to carry the load? When there is something to be done, do I volunteer? Do I speak at meetings when asked, no matter how nervous I am? Do I accept each opportunity to do twelfth step work as a challenge? Do I give freely of my time and money? Am I trying to spread A.A. wherever I go? Is my daily life a demonstration of A.A. principles? Am I a good A.A.? So ............ Am I lacking in any of these areas?? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Envy We often find ourselves envying someone else. We think they have more money or more friends. We see them as better looking or luckier in some way than we are. It is so easy to overlook our own gifts when we do this. We get fooled by what looks good and forget that all human beings have some weaknesses and pain, just like we do. Like the trees in the forest, we each have our own unique beauty and talents to offer. If we believe in ourselves, rather than envy those around us, we will grow green and tall in our own way. What qualities might I have that someone might envy? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Common Good The unity, the effectiveness, and even the survival of A.A. will always depend upon our continued willingness to give up some of our personal ambitions and desires for the common safety and welfare. Just as sacrifice means survival for the individual alcoholic, so does sacrifice mean unity and survival for the group and for A.A.'s entire Fellowship. "As Bill Sees It" Page 220 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Today I can set my goals with the clear and confident knowledge that I can only do one thing at a time and take one step at a time towards that goal. I do not need to wait until I reach the goal to be happy and satisfied. I am fulfilled with each step, knowing that is all I can do in each moment." -- Ruth Fishel |
October 17
Prayer for Discernment and Wisdom Lord, Thank You for the people You have placed in my life who speak truth, love and words of wisdom. Give me a heart of discernment to know when You are using someone to speak instructions into my heart and my circumstances, and give me the strength and courage to follow through with that advice, even when it’s hard. Fill me with peace in knowing that even if I take a wrong turn, Your purpose will prevail. Amen. -- Tracie Miles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought There are no leaders in A.A. except as they volunteer to accept responsibility. The work of carrying on A.A. - leading group meetings, serving on committees, speaking before other groups, doing twelfth step work, spreading A.A. among the alcoholics of the community - all these things are done on a volunteer basis. If I don't volunteer to do something concrete for A.A., the movement is that much less effective. I must do my fair share to carry the load. A.A. depends on all its members to keep it alive and to keep it growing. So ............ Am I doing my share for A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Not a Victim If we set our mind to it, we have an incredible, almost awesome ability to find misery in any situation, even the most wonderful of circumstances. How deeply ingrained our self-image as a victim? How habitual is our feelings of misery and helplessness? Victimization can be so habitual that we may feel victimized even by the good things that happen to us! if we set our mind to it, we have an incredible, almost awesome ability to find misery in any situation, even the best Circumstances. We are not victims. We may have been victimized. We may have allowed ourselves to be victimized. We may have sought out, created, or re created situations that victimized us. But we are not victims. We can stand in our power. We do not have to allow ourselves to be victimized. We do not have to let others victimize us. We do not have to seek out misery in either the most miserable or the best situations. Set a boundary! Deal with the anger! Tell someone no, or stop that! Walk away from a relationship! Ask for what you need! Make choices and take responsibility for them. Explore options. Give yourself what you need! Stand up straight, head up, and claim your power. Claim responsibility for yourself! And learn to enjoy what's good. You are not a victim. (From the writings of Melody Beattie) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meditation and Prayer Rewards Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of belonging that comes to us. We no longer live in a completely hostile world. We are no longer lost and frightened and purposeless. The moment we catch even a glimpse of God's will, the moment we begin to see truth, justice, and love as the real and eternal things in life, we are no longer deeply disturbed by all the seeming evidence to the contrary that surrounds us in purely human affairs. We know that God lovingly watches over us. We know that when we turn to Him, all will be well with us, here and hereafter. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 105 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Every time you think you’re being rejected God’s actually redirecting you to something better. Ask him to give you the strength to press forward.” -- Nick Vujicic |
October 18
Beginning a New Day Prayer Thank You, Lord, for bringing me safely through another night and into the beginning this new day. Lord, I have no clue what today will bring, but I pray that this may be a day when you are lifted up in my life, a day when I walk in spirit and truth. Prepare me Lord, for all the eventualities that may happen. Help me to stand fast and to be salt and light to all those with whom I come in contact Lord, I place today in Your hands and trust You to direct my day until I place my head back onto my pillow of sleep. I ask that whether in busyness or in quietude, Your will be done. Whether I am surrounded by crowds of people or remain in the solitude of my own company, I ask that You would be there to direct. I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my inner being, would be pleasing and acceptable to You throughout today, and may Your will be done. Amen. -- Jim Witherspoon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought If I do not do my share, A.A. might lose some of it's effectiveness. Are there some things I do not feel like doing? Am I held back by self-consciousness or fear? Self-consciousness is a form of pride. It is a fear that something may happen to you. What happens to you is not very important. The impression you make on others does not depend so much on the kind of a job you do as on your sincerity and honesty of purpose. So ............ Am I holding back because I am afraid of not making a good impression? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Be Who You Are What would happen if we let go of our camouflage of adaptation? What would happen if we owned our power to be ourselves? Would people still like us? Would they go away? Would they become angry? There comes a time when we become willing and ready to take that risk. It becomes time to stop allowing ourselves to be so controlled by others and their expectations and be true to ourselves - regardless of the reaction of others. Before long, we begin to understand. Some people may go away, but the relationship would have ended anyway. Some people stay and love and respect us more for taking the risk of being whom we are. We begin to achieve intimacy, and relationships that work. We discover that who we are has always been good enough. It is who we were intended to be. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feeling Alone And what can be said of many A.A. members who, for a variety of reasons, cannot have a family life? At first many of these feel lonely, hurt, and left out as they witness so much domestic happiness about them. If they cannot have this kind of happiness, can A.A. offer them satisfactions of similar worth and durability? Yes--whenever they try hard to seek them out. Surrounded by so many A.A. friends, these so-called loners tell us they no longer feel alone. In partnership with others--women and men--they can devote themselves to any number of ideas, people, and constructive projects. Free of marital responsibilities, they can participate in enterprises which would be denied to family men and women. We daily see such members render prodigies of service, and receive great joys in return. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 120 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do." -- Brene Brown |
October 19
Prayer for Guidance and Strength Lord, I pray that you guide me and strengthen me as I carry my many burdens. My burdens weighs down my heart, and I doubt at times if I can bear it. When I am upset or anxious, bring me strength and calmness. Bring me peace in my time of need and help me to find happiness in every day. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought What makes an effective talk at a meeting? It is not a fine speech with fine choice of words and an impressive delivery. Often a few simple words direct from the heart are more effective than the most polished speech. There is always a temptation to speak beyond your own experience, in order to make a good impression. This is never effective. What does not come from the heart does not reach the heart. What comes from personal experience and a sincere desire to help the other person reaches the heart. So ............ Do I speak for effect or with a deep desire to help? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Spiritual Nourishment We neglect to provide ourselves with nourishment for our minds and souls. Life's experiences include joy and beauty and pain and grief. If we are uplifted every day by beauty in its many forms, we are strengthened and carried along to meet the tougher parts of our day. We may need to push some other things aside to have it. Perhaps some jobs can wait until tomorrow, and we can linger over a meal with our loved ones. Maybe mowing the lawn or fixing the car isn't as important as a half-hour of good music. Do we make space for nourishing moments in each day? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. Bob's Last Talk "It would be fitting to lay a little emphasis (on a few things); one is the simplicity of our Program. Let’s not louse it all up with Freudian complexes and things that are interesting to the scientific mind, but have very little to do with our actual AA work. Our 12 Steps, when simmered down to the last, resolve themselves into the words love and service. We understand what love is and we understand what service is. So let’s bear those two things in mind. Let us also remember to guard that erring member – the tongue, and if we must use it, let’s use it with kindness and consideration and tolerance. And one more thing; none of us would be here today if somebody hadn’t taken time to explain things to us, to give us a little pat on the back, to take us to a meeting or two, to have done numerous little kind and thoughtful acts in our behalf. So let us never get the degree of smug complacency so that we’re not willing to extend or attempt to, that help which has been so beneficial to us, to our less fortunate brothers. Thank you very much." -- Dr. Bob (July of 1950, at the First International Convention) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions.” -- Alcoholics Anonymous p.64 |
October 20
Prayer to Relax Lord, Please grant me peace of mind and calm my troubled heart. Give me the strength and clarity of mind to find my purpose and walk the path you've laid out for me. I trust your Love, and know that you will heal this stress. Just as the sun rises each day against the dark of night. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought How do I work with new prospects? Am I always trying to dominate the conversation? Do I lay down the law and tell prospects what they will have to do? Do I judge them privately and feel that they have small chance of making the program? Do I belittle them to myself? Or am I willing to bare my soul so as to get them talking about themselves? And, then, am I willing to be a good listener, not interrupting, but hearing them out to the end? Do I feel deeply that they are my brothers or my sisters? So ............ Am I helping them along the path to sobriety? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Being Committed All people set goals and resolutions, and easily slip back into old habits. We are all haunted by the excuses and “yeah buts” that have cost us countless opportunities for growth and expansion. Many people are attached to comfort, safety, and simplicity. These values are important and can provide much tranquility, though to truly grow and expand we must find an area of our life where commitment supersedes comfort. Do your commitments live up to your dreams? Success comes with commitment. Being committed is a willingness to do whatever it takes to fulfill and follow through on a responsibility. It may not even be what we most enjoy, but none the less, being committed means we are going to do it regardless. Commitment is essential to being a winner and achieving our loftiest goals. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Service Work & Commitments A home group can provide you with opportunities for service work and commitments. This could include brewing the coffee before meetings, updating contact lists, collecting donations, and much more. Service work and commitments tie into the accountability benefits we learned about above. You’re much more likely to show up to a meeting if you know you’re supposed to put the chairs out and you’re much more likely to stay sober when you know things are expected of you. Alcoholics don’t typically like accountability and especially not chores, but service work and commitments work. Talk to the meeting chair about signing up for service work and commitments. -- Anonymous A.A. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results." -- Art Turock |
October 21
Self-Rule Prayer Lord, I pray that I might finally come to the end of self-rule. I confess that I am driven by the need for the approval of others, the need to be recognized, and the need to assert myself for my own good and self-glorification. Today, I lay all that at Your feet and pray that I might give up to my own self-generated plans; may only Yours matter. Lord, teach me to ask for & practice Your will. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Do I have any hard feelings about other group members or for any other A.A. group? Am I critical of the way a group member thinks or acts? Do I feel that another group is operating in the wrong way and do I broadcast it? Or do I realize that all A.A. members, no matter what their limitations, have something to offer, some good, however little, that they can do for A.A. in spite of their handicaps? Do I believe that there is a place for all kinds of groups in A.A., provided they are following A.A. traditions, and that they can be effective, even if I do not agree with their procedure? So ............ Am I tolerant of people and groups? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Life Is Life is difficult. We never reach the point where our path is free of obstacles and hardships As painful and hard as it is, life also is deeply meaningful and worthwhile when we submit to its reality and live in a spiritual way. We need relationships to stay sane. We need to pull together and support one another the way people do in difficult times. Rugged individualism isn't always good for real people in the real world. We need relationships so we can celebrate and encourage one another. We need relationships so we can laugh and make jokes and tell our personal stories. And we need to stand together to oppose the destructive forces around us. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Search For Motives Some of us clung to the claim that when drinking we never hurt anybody but ourselves. Our families didn't suffer, because we always paid the bills and seldom drank at home. Our business associates didn't suffer, because we were usually on the job. Our reputations didn't suffer, because we were certain few knew of our drinking. Those who did would sometimes assure us that, after all, a lively bender was only a good man's fault. What real harm, therefore, had we done? No more, surely, than we could easily mend with a few casual apologies. This attitude, of course, is the end result of purposeful forgetting. It is an attitude which can be changed only by a deep and honest search of our motives and actions. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 79 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” -- Steve Mariboli |
October 22
Prayer for a Strong Immune System Lord, I pray that You would bless me with a strong immune system so that I have a powerful defense against bacterial and viral infections. I thank You that when You created me, You put this system within me to protect me from illness. Help me be diligent to promote a strong immune system through healthy habits and to avoid habits that compromise it. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought If we had absolute faith in the power of God to keep us from drinking and if we turned our alcoholism entirely over to God without reservations, we wouldn't have to do anything more about it. We'd be free from drinking once and for all. But since our faith is apt to be weak, we have to strengthen and build up this faith. We do this in several ways. One way is by listening to others tell how they have found all the strength they need to overcome drink. So ............ Is my faith being strengthened by this personal witness of other alcoholics? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Conflicts Today I may face a possible conflict with another person over a certain issue. How should I respond to this? It may be very harmful to look at these conflicts as a case of winning or losing. If I seem to win when I'm wrong, I will lose in the long run. If I seem to lose even when I'm right, I can know that there's just resolution of everything in time. I will always win, however, if I keep my thinking straight and take care to avoid resentment and bitterness. Much harm is done by people who are absolutely sure they are right at all times As human beings, we cannot expect to be excluded from these conflicts.We do, however, have a means of dealing with such conflicts effectively when we respond according to principle. It is good to know that any person can have the same privileges by following the right principles. Unpleasant as any conflict may seem, it does give me an opportunity to learn and to grow. I will seek to benefit from any such conflict today. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anyway People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. -- St. Teresa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “By bravely enduring our trials, we learn humility, compassion for others, and a great reliance on God. We also learn that our happiness and progress depend much less upon what challenges life may bring and infinitely more on how we face and overcome those challenges.” -- Lloyd D. Newell |
October 23
This Morning Prayer Lord, Please keep me and my loved ones from all danger and harm. Help me start this day with a new, pleasant attitude with plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so I can hear Your voice. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things without judgment. Let me not whine or complain over things I have no control over. And when the world closes in on me, let me remember, to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. Continue to use me to do Your Will. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Do I always want to be up front in the limelight? Do I feel that nobody else can do as good a job as I can? Am I willing to take a seat in the back row once in a while and let somebody else carry the ball? Part of the effectiveness of any A.A. group is the development of new members to carry on, to take over from the older members. Am I reluctant to give up authority? Do I try to carry the load for the whole group? If so, I am not being fair to the newer members. Do I realize that no one person is essential? So ............ Do I know that A.A. could carry on without me, if it had to? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Staying with God God never forsakes us; we forsake Him. We become so involved in our concerns and activities that we forget to open our eyes and our hearts to His presence. Emotional binges occur when we wander away from our Higher Power into self-centered preoccupation. Without His control, we lose our serenity. There will always be cause of conflict and frustration in our daily lives. How we handle these situations depends on our spiritual condition. By ourselves, we cannot manage our own lives. Our behavior can be insane. It is through the Power greater than ourselves that we are led into order, sanity. To stay with this Power is our salvation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Praise It's always heady stuff when others congratulate us on our victory over alcohol. Fair-minded people will have considerable admiration for what appears to be a bootstrap effort to make a comeback from despair and defeat. We can accept this praise with grace and modesty. At some point, however, we should emphasize that our recovery was an example of spiritual principles at work and that thousands have been able to follow in the same path. Sober AA members are not exceptions; they are examples of what the program can do in people's lives. It is important to emphasize that we are ordinary people. The marvelous thing about the program is that it works for ordinary people like ourselves. Many people in the fellowship have great talent and ability, but those gifts have nothing to do with staying sober. The gifted person gets sober the same way anybody does..... by admitting powerlessness over alcohol and by accepting the program. -- Mel B. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex." -- Norman Vincent Peale |
October 24
Prayer for Strength When Weary Lord, I’m weary. My energy is sagging, and my motivation is lagging. And I am so in need of your strength and your fresh touch to get back on track again. The pressures of life sometimes push me into a corner, rendering me helpless to move forward. A hundred voices call my name, and I feel paralyzed at times to answer, not knowing where to turn. Lord, help me not to quit, to keep running the race faithfully, and to find strength to continue. I need your strength to say no when I'm tempted to surrender to harmful things, or when selfishness clings to my clothes and won't let go. I need your strength to say yes, when cowardice and fear nudge me to deny the convictions of my heart. I need your strength to reach out in love to those both close to me and all around me. Renew my strength, Lord. Fill me with your power to overcome each obstacle in my path. With my eyes on you, Lord, with you walking beside me, working through me, I can make it. Thank you, Lord! Amen -- Rebecca Barlow Jordan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Do I put too much reliance on any one member of the group? That is, do I make a tin god out of some one person? Do I set that person on a pedestal? If I do, I am building my house on sand. All A.A. members have "clay feet." They are all only one drink away from a drunk, no matter how long they have been sober in A.A. This has been proved to be true more than once. It's not fair to any member to be singled out as a leader in A.A. and to always quote that member on the A.A. program. If that person should fail, where would I be? So ............ Can I afford to be tipped over by the failure of my ideal? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Envy No emotion brings us more personal pain or wastes more of our time than envy. When we envy, we are never free from stress.When we envy others, we blind ourselves to the good we could see in all people. When we envy the accomplishments or possessions of another, we will be better off if we look to our own prized possessions, to those things in ourselves that no one else has in exactly the same way. What riches do I have within and around me today? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Emergencies Only Whether we had been believers or unbelievers, we began to get over the idea that the Higher Power was a sort of bush-league pinch hitter, to be called upon only in an emergency. The notion that we would still live our own lives, God helping a little now and then, began to evaporate. Many of us who had thought ourselves religious awoke to the limitations of this attitude. Refusing to place God first, we had deprived ourselves of His help. But now the words "Of myself I am nothing, the Father doeth the works" began to carry bright promise and meaning. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 75 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “There are two kinds of slaves, the prisoners of addiction, and the prisoners of envy.” -- Ivan Ilich |
October 25
Peace of Mind Prayer Oh Lord, grant me peace in my heart, eliminate the pain and relieve me of the stress I feel. Allow Your serenity and love to consume me. Relax my mind, my body and my soul as I surrender myself to You. Revive the joy and energy I once had. Allow Your light to infiltrate through the darkness and grace me so I can smile again. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought There are two important things we have to do if we want to get sober and stay sober. First, having admitted that we are helpless before alcohol, we have to turn our alcoholic problem over to God and trust Him to take care of it for us. This means asking Him every morning for the strength to stay sober for that day and thanking Him every night. It means really leaving the problem in God's hands and not reaching out and getting the problem back to ourselves. Second, having given our drink problem to God, we must cooperate with Him by doing something about it ourselves. So ............ Am I doing these two things? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Honesty The most precious gift we can give those closest to us is honesty. Yet we often hide our true selves from friends, fearing we won't be accepted or loved if we let them see the real us. If we hide too much behind false images, we run the risk of losing track of what is real and what is false. We become actors instead of real people. When we conquer our fear of letting others in, we are able to see ourselves honestly. When we discover that others accept us as we are, we can accept and love ourselves. To know oneself is to know a person of value. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shocking Conclusion When A.A. was quite young, a number of eminent psychologists and doctors made an exhaustive study of a good-sized group of so-called problem drinkers. The doctors weren't trying to find how different we were from one another; they sought to find whatever personality traits, if any, this group of alcoholics had in common. They finally came up with a conclusion that shocked the A.A. members of that time. These distinguished men had the nerve to say that most of the alcoholics under investigation were still childish, emotionally sensitive, and grandiose. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Pages 122-123 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Most people grow old, but not everybody grows up." -- Nishan Panwar |
October 26
Times of Change Prayer Lord, I’m going through many changes in my life, which often make me feel unsettled. I frequently feel stressed and fearful that I will take the wrong step. Lord, please guide and direct me through these changes, and help me be more resilient. Help me develop the new skills I need to deal with these new challenges. Help me have a positive attitude and not fixate on things out of my control. Help me seek out and obtain the support I need from family and friends. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought How big a part of my life is A.A.? Is it just one of my activities and a small one at that? Do I only go to A.A. meetings now and then and sometimes never go at all? Do I think of A.A. only occasionally? Am I reticent about mentioning the subject of A.A. to people who might need help? Or does A.A. fill a large part of my life? Is it the foundation of my whole life? Where would I be without A.A.? Does everything I have and do depend on my A.A. foundation? So ............ Is A.A. the foundation on which I build my life? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Scared or Embarrassed Do we avoid making new friends because we're scared they won't like us? Do we get embarrassed when we make a mistake and avoid trying again? When we get our feelings hurt, do we think we're bad, or that something is wrong with us? Being scared or shy or hurt are all part of being alive. When we try to stay away from painful feelings, we keep ourselves from having many wonderful adventures. If we're afraid to meet new people, we may never have any close friends. If we stop trying when we're embarrassed, we may never learn a better way of doing things. And if we don't share our hurt feelings, we may never find out that everyone else has the same feelings we have. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alcoholism — an illness Today we are willing to accept the idea that, as far as we are concerned, alcoholism is an illness, a progressive illness which can never be “cured,” but which, like some other illnesses, can be arrested. We agree that there is nothing shameful about having an illness, provided we face the problem honestly and try to do something about it. We are perfectly willing to admit that we are allergic to alcohol and that it is simply common sense to stay away from the source of our allergy. We understand now that once a person has crossed the invisible borderline from heavy drinking to compulsive alcoholic drinking, that person will always remain an alcoholic. So far as we know, there can never be any turning back to “normal” social drinking. “Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic” is a simple fact we have to live with. From: “This Is A.A.” (Pamphlet) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances.” -- Julia Soul |
October 27
Prayer for Strength Lord, please give me strength when I am weak, love when I feel forsaken, courage when I am afraid, wisdom when I feel foolish, comfort when I am alone, hope when I feel rejected, and peace when I am in turmoil. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just Thought When new members come into my A.A. group, do I make a special effort to make them feel at home? Do I put myself out to listen to them, even if their ideas of A.A. are vague? Do I make it a habit to talk to all new members myself, or do I often leave that to someone else? I may not be able to help them, but then again it may be something that I might say that would put them on the right track. When I see any members sitting alone, do I put myself out to be nice to them, or do I stay among my own special group of friends and leave them out in the cold? So ............ Are all new A.A.’s & “loners” my responsibility? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation What If What if you were wrong? What if everything you ever believed was a lie? What if you missed your opportunity because you didn't know your worth? What if you settled on familiar, but God was trying to give you something better? What if you decided not to go backwards, but forward? What if doing what you have never done before was the answer to everything that didn't make sense? What if the answer wasn't to be found in words, but in action? What if you found the courage to do what you really wanted to do and doing it changed your whole life? (from: Shannon L. Alder) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Agnostic Temperament Some of us have been violently anti-religious. To others, the word "God" brought up a particular idea of Him with which someone had tried to impress them during childhood. Perhaps we rejected this particular conception because it seemed inadequate. With that rejection we imagined we had abandoned the God idea entirely. We were bothered with the thought that faith and dependence upon a Power beyond ourselves was somewhat weak, even cowardly. We looked upon this world of warring individuals, warring theological systems, and inexplicable calamity, with deep skepticism. We looked askance at many individuals who claimed to be godly. How could a Supreme Being have anything to do with it all? And who could comprehend a Supreme Being anyhow? Yet, in other moments, we found ourselves thinking, when enchanted by a starlit night, "Who, then, made all this?" There was a feeling of awe and wonder, but it was fleeting and soon lost. Yes, we of agnostic temperament have had these thoughts and experiences. Let us make haste to reassure you. We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God. Alcoholics Anonymous Pages 45 – 46 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Negative people need drama like it’s oxygen. Stay positive and take their breath away.” -- Unknown |
October 28
Prayer for Worry and Anxiety God, Sometimes I feel I cannot face this day; it is hard to keep going with such anxious thoughts running through my mind. I ask for your peace to flood my being, that each moment I would surrender these worries, fears and anxieties to you. I ask for your presence to walk with me through each part of my day, that I would not feel alone but know that I am loved. And I ask for your strength to wake me each morning and keep me going. I trust in you to see me through, lead me to calmer seas, balance and rest in heart, mind, body and soul. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We also strengthen our faith by working with other alcoholics and finding that we can do nothing ourselves to help them, except to tell them our own story of how we found the way out. If the person is helped, it's by the grace of God and not by what we do or say. Our own faith is strengthened when we see another alcoholic find sobriety by turning to God. And finally we strengthen our faith by having quiet times every morning. So ............ Do I ask God in this quiet time for the strength to stay sober this day? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Gossip Gossip is a seductive pastime that can be harmful to others, harmful to ourselves. Some gossip is innocent. We chatter about the experiences of others lightly, joyfully, in a way that doesn’t hurt. Other gossip isn’t so innocent. It’s rooted in anger, jealousy, betrayal, and sometimes hatred. We feel deprived and cheated– hurt-so we want to hurt another. Would you stand and throw darts at someone? Would you pick up a knife and stab that person in the back? I think not. Yet, when we gossip, we do the same thing. Words, especially those coated with emotion, carry energy, sometimes potentially damaging energy. When we hurt another, we hurt ourselves. Both are injured. We need to deal with our feelings of anger, hurt, betrayal, or jealousy before they wound through gossip. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pride & Self-Pity I, who had thought so well of myself and my abilities, of my capacity to surmount obstacles, was cornered at last. Now I was to plunge into the dark, joining that endless procession of sots who had gone on before. I thought of my poor wife. There had been much happiness after all. What would I not give to make amends. But that was over now. No words can tell of the loneliness and despair I found in that bitter morass of self-pity. Quicksand stretched around me in all directions. I had met my match. I had been overwhelmed. Alcohol was my master. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” -- Jane Austen |
October 29
Prayer for Worry and Stress Lord, I am wound up inside. I feel I cannot continue to meet the demands placed upon me. I am close to burn out and I fear I may buckle under the weight of these worries. I am tired of carrying this stress around, I so need to find some peace. So, Lord I come to you. I trust that you can lead me to a new place, Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought How good a sponsor am I? When I bring new members to a meeting, do I feel that my responsibility has ended? Or do I make it my job to stay with them until they have either become good members of A.A. or have found another sponsor? If they don't show up for a meeting, do I say to myself: "Well they've had their chance, so if they don't want it, there's nothing more I can do? " Or do I look them up and find out whether there is a reason for their absences or that they don't want A.A.? Do I go out of my way to find out if there is anything more, I can do to help? So ............ Am I a good sponsor? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Play Go play? Yes, take a break and go play. When your head starts to pound and your back starts to ache, stop. Do something you want to do. Something that feels good, feels fun. Leave your worries behind. Put them in a box, then close it, and go play. We make sure that our children take time for recess every day. But we forget that we need recess, too. The lingering threads of work and worry can tie us to tasks done and undone. They can block our connection to joy, creativity, and the vital life-giving force that courses through us all. We no longer need to slump with tension and fatigue. It isn’t necessary and it doesn’t help a thing. Most often, it hurts. Your fatigue may be from lack of play as much as lack of sleep. You might begin to see that you don’t need a rest, a nap, or more vitamin C. You need to play. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Outside Help It was evident that a solitary self-appraisal, and the admission of our defects based upon that alone, wouldn't be nearly enough. We'd have to have outside help if we were surely to know and admit the truth about ourselves--the help of God and of another human being. Only by discussing ourselves, holding back nothing, only by being willing to take advice and accept direction could we set foot on the road to straight thinking, solid honesty, and genuine humility. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 59 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote “All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.” -- Sophocles (496-406 BC) |
October 30
Prayer for Anxiety Lord, When I feel crushed by my own worries, Lift my mind and help me to see the truth. When fear grips me tight and I feel I cannot move, Free my heart and help me to take things one step at a time. When I can't express the turmoil inside, Calm me with Your quiet words of love. I choose to trust in You, each day, each hour, each moment of my life. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought We have definitely left that dream world behind. It was a world of our own making and it was not the real world. We are sorry for the past, yes, but we learned a lot from it. We can put it down to experience, as we see it now, because it has given us the knowledge necessary to face the world as it really is. We had to become alcoholics in order to find the A.A. program. We would not have got it any other way. In a way, it was worth it. So ............ Do I look at my past as valuable experience? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Words & Perception How burdened we became with the labels applied by parents, teachers, even school chums. We believe about ourselves what others teach us to believe. The messages aren't always true. But the names, they linger in our memories and influence our self-perceptions as adults. We are as lovely, as capable, and as successful as we perceive ourselves to be. Our own thoughts and words, our own labels can become as powerful as those of our youth. It takes practice to believe in ourselves. But we can break the past's hold on us. My higher power will help me know the real me. I am all that I ever needed to be; I am special, and I will come to believe that. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Faith We finally saw that faith in some kind of God was a part of our make-up. Sometimes we had to search persistently, but He was there. He was as much a fact as we were. We found the Great Reality deep down within us. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 55 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "Alcoholism does more havoc than three historical scourge together; famine, plague and war." -- William Gladstone, 1809-1898 (British Statesman & Prime Minster) |
October 31
Prayer for Acceptance Lord, help me to accept the person that you made me to be, blessings, difficulties, and all. Help me to recognize the plans and purpose for my life and to know there is no purpose too big or too small in this world, as you are the one who gave it to me. Amen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Thought Am I all get and no give? Do I go to meetings and always sit in the back row and let the others do all the work? Do I think it's enough just because I'm sober and can rest on my laurels? If so, I haven't gone very far in the program, nor am I getting nearly enough of what it has to offer. I will be a weak member until I get in there and help carry the load. I must eventually get off the bench and get into the game. I'm not just a spectator: I'm supposed to be one of the team. Do I go in there and carry the ball? So ............ Am I still on a "free ride" in A.A.? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Contemplation Moving Forward Time past is gone forever, and we can never go back to it. The only way to avoid repetitious failure is to move forward creatively. Each day is a new creation, and each day brings new lessons and opportunities. We build on what is past, but we do not need to repeat it. Moving forward involves risking what is unknown. The old, familiar rut, depressing as it is, is a known quantity. Moving out of it requires that we have courage and that we trust.To move on, we must act. Insights do not produce growth until they are accompanied by specific actions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spare Time None of us makes a sole vocation of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if we did. We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs. All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we are going to describe. A few are fortunate enough to be so situated that they can give nearly all their time to the work. Alcoholics Anonymous Page 19 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a Quote "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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