DAILY PONDERABLES
Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny
Daily Reflections
A WORLD OF THE SPIRIT
We have entered into the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84
The word "entered" . . . and the phrase "entered into the world of the Spirit" are very significant. they imply action, a beginning, getting into, a prerequisite to maintaining my spiritual growth, the "Spirit" being the immaterial part of me. Barriers to my spiritual growth are self-centeredness and a materialistic focus on worldly things, it means obedience to God's will for me. I understand spiritual things to be: unconditional love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control and humility. Any time I allow selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear to be a part of me, I block out spiritual things. As I maintain my sobriety, growing spiritually becomes a lifelong process. My goal is spiritual growth, accepting that I'll never have spiritual perfection.
From the book Daily Reflections
© Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought for the Day
We've gotten rid of our false, drinking selves and found our real, sober selves. And we turn to God, our Father, for help, just as the Prodigal Son arose and went to his father. At the end of the story, the father of the Prodigal Son says: "He was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found." We alcoholics who have found sobriety in A.A. were certainly dead and are alive again. We were lost and are found. Am I alive again?
Meditation for the Day
Gently breathe in God's spirit, that spirit which, if not barred out by selfishness, will enable you to do good works. This means rather that God will be enabled to do good works through you. You can become a channel for God's spirit to flow through you and into the lives of others. The works that you can do will only be limited by your spiritual development. Let your spirit be in harmony with God's spirit and there is no limit to what you can do in the realm of human relationships.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may become a channel for God's spirit. I pray that God's spirit may flow through me into the lives of others.
From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day
© Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation
NA - Just for Today
That one special person
Page 75
"A sponsor is not necessarily a friend, but may be someone in whom we confide. We can share things with our sponsor that we might not be comfortable sharing in a meeting."
IP No. 11, Sponsorship Revised
We've asked someone to sponsor us, and the reasons we have for asking that particular person are as many as the grains of sand on a beach. Perhaps we heard them share at a speaker meeting and thought they were funny or inspiring. Perhaps we thought they had a great car and we would get one by working the same program they work. Or maybe we live in a small town and they were the only person who had the time available to help.
Whatever our initial reasons for getting the sponsor we have, we're sure to find that our reasons for keeping them are quite different. Suddenly they'll amaze us with some stunning insight, making us wonder whether they've been sneaking peeks at our Fourth Step. Or maybe we're going through some sort of life crisis, and their experience with the same problem helps us in ways we never dreamed possible. We call them in pain, and they come up with a special combination of caring words that provide genuine comfort.
None of these remarkable feats on the part of our sponsor are mere coincidence. They've simply walked the same path before us. A Higher Power has placed that one special person in our lives, and we are grateful for their presence.
Just for Today: I will appreciate that one special person in my life - my sponsor.
From the book Just for Today
© Copyright 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Thought for Today
"If you really want to hear God laugh tell him what your plans are for your future." Marty
the words
are the words
are the words
which is not worlds
or whirls
or squirrels
it is the language
of explanation
and it can weave
a way or two or three
the language
of the heart
is openness—
is surrender—
which is a trust
that can't be described
but only experienced
a feeling
that can and does
take on
human form
-- unknown (thanks Bill C.)
Buddha/Zen Thoughts
Once we become aware that our minds are full, that is the exact moment we become Mindful.
Of course, the laws of science contain no matter and have no energy
either and therefore do not exist except in people's minds. It's best to
be completely scientific about the whole thing and refuse to believe in
either ghosts or the laws of science. That way you're safe. That
doesn't leave you very much to believe in, but that's scientific too.
-- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (thanks Bill C.)
Native American
"I went to a holy man and asked him for help. He told me to get on the Red Road. `Pray to Wakan-Tanka (Great Spirit) to help you walk the Red Road."
--Dr. A.C. Ross (Ehanamani), LAKOTA
All Indian traditions, customs and ceremonies help us answer three questions: who am I?, why am I?, and where am I going? Only on the Red Road can we find the answer to these three questions. When we can answer these three questions, we are on the Red Road. When we cannot, we have gone astray. That is why the Holy Men tell us to pray to the Great Spirit and to seek the Red Road. Why am I? My purpose is the serve the Great Spirit. Who am I? I am an Indian who walks the Red Road. Where am I going? My vision is to serve my people.
Great Spirit, when I know You, only then do I know me. Help me today to know You.
Keep It Simple
God loves the world through us. --- Mother Teresa
In Step Three, we turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. How do we feel God's care, God's love? We feel God's care and love through how people treat us. Our Higher Power works through people who love us back to life. With time, we begin returning this care and love to others. We feel this warm love flow right through us and out to others. We're kind without trying to be. We smile at others for no reason. We comfort those who hurt just by holding them.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, use me to make Your love real to someone today.
Action for the Day: Fear sometimes keeps me from loving. I'll list three things I'm afraid will happen if I'm "to loving." I'll share these fears with my sponsor.
Big Book - Readings
THE DOCTOR'S OPINION (pg. xxx)
However, he did become "sold" on the ideas contained in this book. He has not had a drink for a great many years. I see him now and then and he is as fine a specimen of manhood as one could wish to meet.
I earnestly advise every alcoholic to read this book through, and though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray.
William D. Silkworth, M.D.
Recovery Stew
I heard a member share today on how he viewed the Steps
A take I’d never heard before concerning their concept
He told us how, when first he tried, to comprehend their meaning
He could not wait to do them all, impatience intervening
He thought a month should do the trick, was anxious to begin
His sponsor listened patiently and then began to grin
The Steps take time, don’t try to rush, they’re numbered for a reason
The Second Step will do no good without the First’s completion
You mean, he said, I have to do this one Step at a time
Why can’t I just combine a few, would that be such a crime
The sponsor said, there’ll come a day, when all twelve will be used
For now, just take one at a time and you won’t get confused
He did what he was asked to do, each Step he had completed
It took almost a year and knew not one had been deleted
So, after doing number Twelve, he thought his work was done
Again, his sponsor grinned at him and said, “you’ve just begun
I made you look at every Step as though it stood alone
But truth be told, they’re intertwined, and now that you have grown
You’ll see they’re all a part of where our Program wants to leads
You may not use each every day, but use the one you need
The member pondered what he’d heard, and if those words were true
The Steps are like a melting pot, a warm vegetable stew
The stew is filled with things we want, like carrots, spuds and peas
Each one holds its own nourishment, our hungriness to cease
Some days the stew may have more peas, on other more potatoes
Or onions, celery, garlic cloves or even green tomatoes
Alone each one does not do much to curb or appetite
But place them all in a big pot, you get a true delight
The Steps are very similar, they complement each other
Each one is an ingredient, that helps us to recover
The first three make the water boil and start us on our way
Then enter in the other six, our defects to display
With ten through twelve our stew’s been cooked and we sit down to eat
We do but know we’ll need some more, this process to repeat
The stew we enjoyed yesterday has long since gone away
We need to make another batch, our hunger to defray
Both recipes are good for us, they keep us in control
The one helps keep our bodies fit, the other ones our soul
And as I pondered what he said my understanding grew
I’d glad I have those twelve great Steps to put into my stew
Larry R.
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