05/18

DAILY PONDERABLES

Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny

Daily Reflections

FREEDOM TO BE ME

If we are painstaking about this phase of our development , we will be amazed before we are halfway through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83

My first true freedom is the freedom not to have to take a drink today. If I truly want it, I will work the Twelve Steps and the happiness of this freedom will come to me through the Steps---sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Other freedoms will follow, and inventorying them is a new happiness. I had a new freedom today, the freedom to be me. I have the freedom to be the best me I have ever been.

From the book Daily Reflections

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought for the Day

We're in A.A. for two main reasons: to keep sober ourselves and to help others to keep sober. It's a well known fact that helping others is a big part of keeping sober yourself It's also been proved that it's very hard to keep sober all by yourself. A lot of people have tried it and failed. They come to a few A.A. meetings and then stay sober alone for a few months, but usually they eventually get drunk. Do I know that I can't stay sober successfully alone?

Meditation for the Day

Look by faith into that place beyond space or time where God dwells and whence you came and to which you shall eventually return. "Look unto Him and be saved." To look beyond material things is within the power of everyone's imagination. Faith's look saves you from despair. Faith's look saves you from worry and care. Faith's took brings a peace beyond all understanding. Faith's look brings you all the strength you need. Faith's look gives you a new and vital power and a wonderful peace and serenity.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have faith's look. I pray that by faith I may look beyond the now to eternal life.

From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day

NA - Just for Today

Friends and amends—keeping it simple

Page 144

"We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."

Step Nine

In every relationship, we don't always handle things the way we would have hoped. But friendships don't have to end when we make mistakes; instead, we can make amends. If we are sincerely willing to accept the responsibilities involved in friendship and make the amends we owe, those friendships can become stronger and richer than ever.

Making amends is simple. We approach the person we have harmed and say, "I was wrong." Sometimes we avoid getting to the point, evading an admission of our own part in the affair. But that frustrates the intent of the Ninth Step. To make effective amends, we have to keep it simple: we admit our part, and leave it at that.

There will be times when our friends won't accept our amends. Perhaps they need time to process what has happened. If that is the case, we must give them that time. After all, we were the ones in the wrong, not them. We have done our part; the rest is out of our hands.

Just for Today: I want to be a responsible friend. I will strive to keep it simple when making amends.

From the book Just for Today

Thought for Today

You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside.

~ Wayne Dyer

"Believe the person who seeks the truth. Be weary of those who say they have found the truth." Richard C.

Sunlight of the spirit

thanks Gordon R.

There comes a time we all must say…

as we look into the mirror

"There's got to be a better way…

to release me from my fear"

We admitted we were powerless…

and we'd go to any length.

Those simple words empowered us…

provided hope and gave us strength.

I heard Him say while on my knees…

"I'll guide you down this road"

A place we pay no dues or fees…

Love and Tolerance is our code.

So much pain we had to feel…

we had to set it free.

Our Higher Power helped us heal...

and restored our sanity.

So give to Him your flaws and fears...

He'll remove the dark obsession.

The things you lost you once held dear…

soon return to your possession.

We had to come a long long way...

from where we used to be.

There was a price we had to pay…

A priceless entrance fee.

Take my hand come walk with me…

We'll trudge this road together...

The Road to Happy Destiny...

a spiritual endeavor.

We find a new design to live…

a change in attitude.

We freely give all we can give…

A life of gratitude.

Say to Him "Thy will be done"

You will know it when you're near it…

A better life is sure to come…

In the Sunlight of the Spirit.

Gordon R.

Buddha/Zen Thoughts

He who for himself or others craves not for sons or power or wealth, who puts not his own success before the success of righteousness, he is virtuous, and righteous and wise.

- Buddha

We are sitting under the tree of our thinking minds, wondering why we’re not getting any sunshine! —Ram Dass (thanks John G.)

Native American

"...Grandmother the Earth. That power is here all the time. It is continuous, and nobody controls it."

--Wallace Black Elk, LAKOTA

There are certain powers that the human being has no choice but to obey. We cannot negotiate or barter with this power. Our choice is either to conform or to live out of harmony. Whatever our choice, it will be the end result in our lives that we notice. So it is with the powers of the Earth which produce life. The Earth has the life force power. If anyone plants a seed, the seed will grow. The Earth treats everyone equally. The human cannot interfere, only obey. We should all show great respect for the Earth and Her powers.

Great Spirit, today, let me honor and respect the power of the Grandmother, the Earth.

Keep It Simple

You cannot plan the future by the past. --- Edmund Burke

We got tried of how we were living. We honestly looked at our life. We saw that alcohol and other drugs controlled our life. We met others who understood us. And we came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could help us. We turned our will and our life over to this Power. In so doing, we learned that life doesn't take place in the past or in the future. We find our program in the present.

Prayer for the Day: I pray that I'll leave the past in the past. I pray that I'll walk into each moment with my Higher Power.

Action for the Day: The only time we revisit the past is when we tell our story. Today, I'll tell my story to someone. I'll tell what really happened. I'll tell what life is like now.

Big Book

Chapter 5 How It Works (pg 69 & top 70)

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.

God alone can judge our sex situation. Counsel with persons is often desirable, but we let God be the final judge. We realize that some people are as fanatical about sex as others are loose. We avoid hysterical thinking or advice.