The road to recovery and clearing the path

Oct. 7, 2013 - A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Monday, Oct. 7, 2013

Reflection for the Day
When I first read the Serenity Prayer, the word "serenity" itself seemed like an impossibility. At the time, the word conjured up images of lethargy, apathy, resignation or grim-faced endurance; it hardly seemed a desirable goal. But I've since found that serenity means none of those things. Serenity for me today is simply a clear-eyed and realistic way of seeing the world, accompanied by inner peace and strength. My favorite definition is, "Serenity is like a gyroscope that lets us keep our balance no matter what turbulence swirls around us."

Is that a state of mind worth aiming for?

Today I Pray
May I notice that "serenity" comes first, ahead of "courage" and "wisdom," in the sequence of the Serenity Prayer. May I believe that "serenity" must also come first in my life. I must have the balanced, realistic outlook and acceptance that is part of this blessing of serenity before I can go on to the kind of action and decision-making that will bring order to my existence.

Today I Will Remember
Serenity comes first.

Hazelden Foundation

Oct. 7, 2013 - The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Monday, Oct. 7, 2013

We alcoholics should be the last people on earth to give advice; first, because we never took it ourselves, and secondly, because our past record would not indicate that our advice is trustworthy.

The best advice that we can give is to show the new man that we did it, show him that he can do it just as we did it, that the best way to get "on the Program" is to emulate the example of those who have made a success of theirs.

Hazelden Foundation

Oct. 7, 2013 - Today's Gift from Hazelden

Monday, Oct. 7, 2013

Today's thought from Hazelden is:

It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without also helping himself. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

When Albert Schweitzer said, "The only ones of you who will be truly happy are those who have found and learned how to serve," he was stating an ancient truth - that the meaning of life lies in giving. The quality of your life is in direct proportion to your willingness to give.

In the classic movie "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey discovered this truth. Though he had many opportunities to pursue his ambitions elsewhere, George remained in his community and dedicated himself to providing affordable housing to its members. When his guardian angel showed him what the town would be like if he had never been born, Bailey realized how much of a difference his giving had made.

George also discovered another secret - that what you give is what you receive. Whatever you give out comes back to you. When you extend yourself to nurture the spiritual growth of another, you nurture your own growth. Although his material possessions were modest, George Bailey was toasted the "richest" (i.e., the most beloved) man in town by the people of Bedford Falls. Later he remarked, "No man can be poor as long as he has friends."

Bailey gave of himself for the joy of giving, and joy is what he received. By following this path, we, too, can be blessed.

From the book:

Listening to Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch

Oct. 6, 2013 - Step by Step

Step by Step
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013

"The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Ch 2 ("There Is a Solution"), p 24.

Today, if the numbing physical and psychological impact of my last drunk has been weakened by the passage of time, let my defense be the outcome of my last drunk - likely the same consequence, if not worse, of every drunk before the last one. I have long since passed the point that a drunk tonight will be less physically and less psychologically costly than my last drunk, even if it was years ago. My sobriety today does not promise that I will be sober tomorrow, but it does promise that I have a choice today to drink or not. If the memory of the physical and emotional toll of my last drunk has been salved by the passage of time, pray I know the reality that I and I alone will be responsible for the consequences of another drunk. And lest I forget that those consequences were too heavy then, and they will probably be too heavy - or heavier - again. Today, I have the choice, and I choose not to forget my last drunk so that I retain the choice not to drink. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2013

Oct. 6, 2013 - Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013

AA Thought for the Day
Is it my desire to be a big shot in AA? 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? Or 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 AA 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?

Do I know that AA could carry on without me, if it had to?

Meditation for the Day
The Unseen God can help to make us truly grateful and humble. Since we cannot see God, we must believe in Him without seeing. What we can see clearly is the change in a human being, when he sincerely asks God for the strength to change. We should cling to faith in God and in His power to change our ways. Our faith in an Unseen God will be rewarded by a useful and serviceable life. God will not fail to show us the way we should live, when in real gratitude and true humility we turn to Him.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may believe that God can change me. I pray that I may be always willing to be changed for the better.

Hazelden Foundation

Oct. 6, 2013 - A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013

Reflection for the Day
As we "keep coming back" to meetings, we're able to recognize those people who have an abundance of serenity. We are drawn to such people. To our surprise, we sometimes find that those who seem most grateful for today's blessings are the very ones who have the most serious and continuing problems at home or at work. Yet they have the courage to turn away from such problems, actively seeking to learn and help others in The Program. How have they gotten this serenity? It must be because they depend less on themselves and their own limited resources - and more on a Power greater than themselves in whom they have confidence.

Am I acquiring the gift of serenity? Have my actions begun to reflect my inner faith?

Today I Pray
May I never cease to be awed by the serenity I see in others in my group - a serenity which manifests their comfortable surrender to a Higher Power. May I learn from them that peace of mind is possible even in the thick of trouble. May I, too, learn that I need to pull back from my problems now and then and draw upon the God-provided pool of serenity within myself.

Today I Will Remember
Serenity is surrender to God's plan.

Hazelden Foundation

Oct. 6, 2013 - The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013

Prohibition is a glaring example of the futility of endeavoring to protect men from their own follies. The setting up of barriers is effective only in challenging the resources of man to overcome those barriers.

It is an unfortunate truth that we never fear a hot stove until we have been burnt, and a fresh paint sign serves only as a dare to everyone to put their finger on it and see for themselves.

Hazelden Foundation

Oct. 6, 2013 - Today's Gift from Hazelden

Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013

Today's thought from Hazelden is:

Self importance is our greatest enemy. Think about it - what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellowmen. Our self importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone. -- Carlos Castaneda
Were we offended by someone yesterday? Do we harbor resentment for remarks, oversights, or unpleasant mannerisms? Do we feel tense or uneasy about how someone else has treated us? We can probably make a good case to justify our reactions. Perhaps we are in the right and they are in the wrong.

Yet, even if we are justified, it doesn't matter. We may be puffing ourselves up and wasting energy. When we are oversensitive, we take a self-righteous position which leads us far from our path of spiritual awakening. Our strength is diminished.

How much better it is to let go of the lightness, let go of our grandiosity, and accept the imperfections in others. We need to accept our own imperfections too. When we do, we are better for it, and our strength and energy can be focused on richer goals.

I will accept others' imperfections; I do not need to be right.

From the book:

Touchstones by Anonymous

Oct. 5, 2013 - Step by Step

Step by Step
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013

"My story has a happy ending, but not of the conventional kind. I had a lot more hell to go through. But what a difference there is between going through hell without a power greater than one's self, and with it! ...(M)y teetering tower of worldly success collapsed. My alcoholic associates fired me, took control and ran the enterprise into bankruptcy. My alcoholic wife took up someone else, divorced me and took with her all my remaining property. The most terrible blow of my life befell me after I'd found sobriety through AA. ...One night my son, when he was only 16, was suddenly and tragically killed. The Higher Power was on deck to see me through, sober. I think He's on hand to see my son through, too. I think He's on hand to see all of us through whatever may come to us." - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, "They Stopped in Time," Ch 16 ("Me an Alcoholic?"), p 437.

Today, grant me foresight to know and be prepared for the day when my AA Program is called upon to see me sober through the bad and not only the good. I must accept that bad things are going to happen in my life sober and that AA is not a promise that the bad will not happen. But AA is a promise that I can get through the bad sober if I not only adhere to the Twelve Steps but also trust a Higher Power that is stronger than me. I absolutely must be willing to be open to the idea of a Higher Power, however, even if that Power is the Program itself. On good days, it's easy to talk the talk of AA; on bad ones, it's another to walk the walk. Disappointments and even tragedy can be expected to hit me, just as they do the non-alcoholic and non-addicted person. Let me begin today to invest in a Program strong enough that I can draw upon when the good days aren't so good. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2013

Oct. 5, 2013 - Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013

AA Thought for the Day
Do I have any hard feelings about other group members or for any other AA 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 AA members, no matter what their limitations, have something to offer, some good, however little, that they can do for AA in spite of their handicaps? Do I believe that there is a place for all kinds of groups in AA, provided they are following AA traditions, and that they can be effective, even if I do not agree with their procedure?

Am I tolerant of people and groups?

Meditation for the Day
"The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and even forever more." All your movements, your goings and comings, can be guided by the Unseen Spirit. Every visit to help another, every unselfish effort to assist, can be blessed by that Unseen Spirit. There can be a blessing on all you do, on every interview with one who is suffering. Every meeting of a need may not be a chance meeting, but it may have been planned by the Unseen Spirit. Led by the Spirit of the Lord, you can be tolerant, sympathetic and understanding of others and so accomplish much.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be led by the spirit of God. I pray that the Lord will preserve my goings and my comings.

Hazelden Foundation

Oct. 5, 2013 - A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013

Reflection for the Day
Soon after I came to The Program, I found a Higher Power whom I choose to call God. I've come to believe that He has all power; if I stay close to Him and do His work well, He provides me not with what I think I want, but with what I need. Gradually, I'm becoming less interested in myself and my little schemes; at the same time, I'm becoming more interested in seeing what I can contribute to others and to life.

As I become more conscious of God's presence, am I beginning to lose my self-centered fears?

Today I Pray
May I see that the single most evident change in myself - beyond my own inner sense of peace - is that I have come out from behind my phony castle walls, dropped the drawbridge that leads into my real village and crossed it. I am back among people again, interested in them, caring what happens to them. May I find my joy here in this peopled reality, now that I have left behind those old self-protective fears and illusions of my own uniqueness.

Today I Will Remember
What is life without people?

Hazelden Foundation