Sept. 27, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023

“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation.” — Herbert Spencer

” …(A)ny alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems in the light of our experience can recover, provided he does not close his mind to all spiritual concepts. He can only be defeated by an attitude of intolerance or belligerent denial.
“We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open-mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable.” — Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Appendices, “Spiritual Experience,” p 570.

Today, to close my mind to the possibility of a Power greater than myself is equivalent to self-absorption and, as such, my recovery Program predictably will fail. Not only does a Program that focuses on my wants and needs trample over the 12th Step marching order to help the alcoholic who still suffers, it is destined for failure. There is humility and gain in service to others if for no other reason than the possibility that a Higher Power exists and can pull me from inside myself and heed the lessons of other alcoholics. In the process, I may learn that what I think is the enormity of my problems is minuscule against the problems of others. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2023

Sept. 27, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023

AA Thought for the Day
Continuing the consideration of the term “spiritual experience:” “What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished by years of self-discipline. With few exceptions, our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource when 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. In any case, willingness, honesty and open-mindedness are the essentials of recovery.”

Have I tapped that inner resource which can change my life?

Meditation for the Day
God’s power in your life increases as your ability to understand His grace increases. The power of God’s grace is only limited by the understanding and will of each individual. God’s miracle-working power is only limited in each individual soul by the lack of spiritual vision of that soul. God respects free will, the right of each person to accept or reject His miracle-working power. Only the sincere desire of the soul gives Him the opportunity to bestow it.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may not limit God’s power by my lack of vision. I pray that I may keep my mind open today to His influence.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 27, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023

Reflection for the Day
In times past, even as adults, many of us childishly insisted that people protect, defend and care for us. We acted as if the world owed us a living. And then, when the people we most love became fed up, pushing us aside or perhaps abandoning us completely, we were bewildered. We couldn’t see that our over-dependence on people was unsuccessful because all human beings are fallible; even the best of them will sometimes let us down, especially when our demands are unreasonable. Today, in contrast, we rely upon God, counting on Him rather than on ourselves or other people.

Am I trying to do as I think God would have me do, trusting the outcome of His will for me?

Today I Pray
May I know, from the dependencies of my past, that I am a dependent person. I depended on alcohol, mood-altering chemicals, food or other addictive pursuits. I was inclined to “hang” on other people, depending on them for more than they could give. May I, at last, switch from these adolescent dependencies to a mature healthy dependency on my Higher Power.

Today I Will Remember
I have more than one dependency.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 27, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023

For us alcoholics, the First Step in life was the usual toddle of the infant. The Second Step, we learned to walk erect like a man; the Third Step, we started to run to keep up with the world; the Fourth Step, we were staggering; the Fifth Step was stumbling and falling; and the Twelfth Step found us erect again.

What happened between the Fifth Step when we fell and the Twelfth Step? Don’t ask me, I’m an alcoholic, too. I had probably just blacked out. Watch your steps — they take you places.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 27, 2023 – Good morning and let’s make it a worthwhile Wednesday

 

Good morning and here’s a cute little puppy dog driving a happy car on their way to a productive and worthwhile Wednesday …let’s take their cue and make it a drama- and trauma-free day

Sept. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Humility means being teachable

Step Seven suggests that we humbly ask God to help us with our shortcomings, not other people’s. Perhaps we fail to see our shortcomings on many occasions, or, when we do see them, we self-righteously justify them. We have honed in on other people’s shortcomings far more often. Nevertheless, we can discover our own if we begin tracking our inner feelings. They are excellent indicators of the behavior(s) we need to change.

With God’s help we can change or give up any behavior that hinders our lives and relationships. We don’t have to yell in anger or pout over hurt feelings. Withholding our love or plotting revenge can be removed from our bank of reactions. We can ask God for freedom from any behavior we no longer want. And if we are willing to be free of the behavior, it will be removed — on God’s timetable.

If I really want God’s help in getting free of troubling behaviors, I simply have to ask. Help will come.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

 

Step by Step

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023

“God willing, we members of AA may never again have to deal with drinking, but we have to deal with sobriety every day. How do we do it? By learning — through practicing the Twelve Steps and through sharing at meetings — how to cope with the problems that we looked to booze to solve, back in our drinking days.” -- Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, “They Lost Nearly All,” Ch 13 (“AA Taught Him to Handle Sobriety”), p 560.

Today, my Higher Power’s plan for my life and the 12 Steps can take me from dealing with drinking again because my challenge now is not drinking but living sober — living no longer in the problem but being a willing participant in the answer of living sober. In drinking, I experienced what it held for me — fear, anger, disgust, regret, loneliness, pain, resentment. In sobriety, the answers aren’t as clear because I either have lived too long in alcoholism or lived most of my life without sobriety. The key to living in the answer instead of the problem is, indeed, the 12 Steps and faith in the God of my understanding. And if they sometimes lead me to uncertain and even scary places because they are not familiar, I know they cannot be as frightening as the certainty of where drinking will take me again. Today, I choose — because now I have a choice — to live in the solution of sobriety and not in the problem of fighting not to drink. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — Chris M., 2023

Sept. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

 

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023

AA Thought for the Day
Continuing the consideration of the term “spiritual experience:” “The acquiring of an immediate and over-whelming God-consciousness, resulting in a dramatic transformation, though frequent, is by no means the rule. Most of 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.”

Is my outlook on life changing for the better?

Meditation for the Day
Look at the world as your Father’s house. Think of all people you meet as guests in your Father’s house, to be treated with love and consideration. Look at yourself as a servant in your Father’s house, as a servant of all. Think of no work as beneath you. Be ever ready to do all you can for others who need your help. There is gladness in God’s service. There is much satisfaction in serving the highest that you know. Express your love for God in service to all who are living with you in your Father’s house.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may serve others out of gratitude to God. I pray that my work may be a small repayment for His grace so freely given me.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

 

A Day at a Time

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023

Reflection for the Day
Is freedom from addiction all that we’re to expect from a spiritual awakening? Not at all. Freedom from addiction is only the bare beginning; it’s only the first gift of our first awakening. Obviously, if more gifts are to come our way, our awakening has to continue. As it does continue, we find that slowly but surely we can scrap the old life — the one that didn’t work — for a new life that can and does work under any and all conditions.

Am I willing to continue my awakening through the practice of the Twelve Steps?

Today I Pray
May I remember how it was when my only goal in life was to be free of my addiction. All the words and phrases I used were stoppers — “giving it up,” “quitting,” “cutting myself off.” Once I was free, I began to realize that my freedom had more to do with “beginning” than “stopping.” May I now continue to think in terms of starters — “expanding,” “awakening,” “growing,” “learning,” “becoming.”

Today I Will Remember
My stopping was a starting point.

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 26, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

 

The Eye Opener

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023

Famous Last Words: “If I had one more drink, I could cut off.” “Lord, get me off this one and I’ll never touch another drop.” “A glass of beer won’t hurt me.” “I’m sober, ain’t I? I don’t need the meetings.” The list is too long to go on.

We constantly sell ourselves a phony bill of goods and then cry our eyes out when we find we have gypped ourselves, but — it wasn’t our fault, understand? If the wife hadn’t –, if the boss hadn’t –, if, if …

Hazelden Foundation

Sept. 26, 2023 – Rise ‘n shine for a spectacular Tuesday

 

Good morning and how about a cute little pussy kitty to get this beautiful Tuesday off to a great start …have a truly worthwhile and productive day, and do it without the intrusion of people and things that don’t deserve our time