August 7th

DAILY PONDERABLES

Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny

Daily Reflections

A "DESIGN FOR LIVING"

We in our turn, sought the same escape with all the

desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a

flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful

hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you

prefer, "a design for living" that really works.

ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS , p. 28

I try each day to raise my heart and hands in thanks

to God for showing me a "design for living" that really

works through our beautiful Fellowship. But what,

exactly, is this "design for living" that "really

works"? For me, it is the practice of the Twelve Steps

to the best of my ability, the continued awareness of

a God who loves me unconditionally, and the hope that,

in each new day, there is a purpose for my being. I

am truly, truly blessed in the Fellowship.

From the book Daily Reflections

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

We in A.A. are offering an intangible thing, a

psychological and spiritual program. It's a wonderful

program. When we learn to turn to a Higher Power, with

faith that that Power can give us the strength we need,

we find peace of mind. When we reeducate our minds by

learning to think differently, we find new interests that

make life worthwhile. We who have achieved sobriety

through faith in God and mental reeducation are modern

miracles. it is the function of our A.A. program to

produce modern miracles. Do I consider the change in my

life a modern miracle?

Meditation For The Day

You should never doubt that God's spirit is always with

you, wherever you are, to keep you on the right path.

God's keeping power is never at fault, only your

realization of it. You must try to believe in God's

nearness and availability of His grace. It is not a

question of whether God can provide a shelter from the

storm, but of whether or not you seek the security of

that shelter. Every fear, worry, or doubt is disloyalty

to God. You must endeavor to trust God wholly. Practice

saying: "All is going to be well." Say it to yourself

until you feel it deeply.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may feel deeply that all is well. I pray that nothing

will be able to move me from that deep conviction.

From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day

NA - Just for Today

The gratitude list

Page 229

"We focus on anything that isn't going our way and ignore all the beauty in our lives."

Basic Text, p. 80

It's easy to be grateful when everything runs smoothly. If we get a raise at work, we're grateful. If we get married, we're grateful. If someone surprises us with a nice present or an unasked favor, we're grateful. But if we get fired, divorced, or disappointed, gratitude flies out the window. We find ourselves becoming obsessed with the things that are wrong, even though everything else may be wonderful.

This is where we can use a gratitude list. We sit down with a pen and paper and list the people for whom we are grateful. We all have people who've supported us through life's upheavals. We list the spiritual assets we have attained, for we know we could never make it through our present circumstances without them. Last, but not least, we list our recovery itself. Whatever we have that we are grateful for goes on the list.

We're sure to find that we have literally hundreds of things in our lives that inspire our gratitude. Even those of us who are suffering from an illness or who have lost all material wealth will find blessings of a spiritual nature for which we can be thankful. An awakening of the spirit is the most valuable gift an addict can receive.

Just for Today: I will write a list of things, both material and spiritual, for which I am grateful.

From the book Just for Today

Thought for Today

There are only 3 motivating factors that change human behavior; pain, fear or ambition.

“I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see.

I sought my God, but my God eluded me.

I sought my brother and I found all three.”

~William Blake

All angels do not have wings. Who are the angels (God's messengers) in your life?

HOPE (plus +) TIME & EFFORT(equals =) SOBRIETY & FAITH

Buddha/Zen Thoughts

Life continues to create itself and fall away, and suffering returns, and delight arrives, if even for a moment--agony, peace, rapture.

-Sandy Boucher, "Hidden Spring"

Native American

"Everything I know I learned by listening and watching."

--Vernon Cooper, LUMBEE

Sometimes my mind is talking so fast about so many different things that I can't slow it down. All day long I am judging and making assumptions about everything.

Great Spirit, help me this day to slow down. Help me to listen - quietly. Help me to watch carefully. Help me to listen to my inner voice. Let me listen and watch only the thing You would have me observe. Guide my eyes and my ears to be focused on You. Grandfather, love me today and teach me to be quiet.

Keep It Simple

True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body.

--- Humboldt

In recovery, we work at taking better care of ourselves. We care for our mind and our body.

Often, during our drinking and drugging, we ignored our mind and body. We probably ate poorly, and we pushed our body to the limit.

But now, we are to recover. . .totally! We are to care for our mind and body as we care for our spirit. Our illness is an illness of mind, body, and spirit. So let's care for all three. In recovery, we learn to care for and love all of who we are.

Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me care for my mind and body as I recover. You love all of me. Help me to respect and care for all of me.

Action for the Day: I will write down how much time I've spent caring for my mind and body in the past two weeks. Is it enough?

Big Book

Chapter 11 A Vision For You (pg 155 & top 156)

His call to the clergyman led him presently to a certain resident of the town, who, though formerly able and respected, was then nearing the nadir of alcoholic despair. It was the usual situation; home in jeopardy, wife ill, children distracted, bills in arrears and standing damaged. He had a desperate desire to stop, but saw no way out, for he had earnestly tried many avenues of escape. Painfully aware of being somehow abnormal, the man did not fully realize what it meant to be alcoholic.

When our friend related his experience, the man agreed that no amount of will power he might muster could stop his drinking for long. A spiritual experience, he conceded, was absolutely necessary, but the price seemed high upon the basis suggested. He told how he lived in constant worry about those who might find out about his alcoholism. He had, of course, the familiar alcoholic obsession that few knew of his drinking. Why, he argued, should he lose the remainder of his business, only to bring still more suffering to his family by foolishly admitting his plight to people from whom he made his livelihood? He would do anything, he said, but that.

Being intrigued, however, he invited our friend to his home. Some time later, and just as he thought he was getting control of his liquor situation, he went on a roaring bender. For him, this was the spree that ended all sprees. He saw that he would have to face his problems squarely that God might give him mastery.