DAILY PONDERABLES
Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny
Daily Reflections
"ACTIVE GUARDIANS"
To us, however, it represents far more than a sound public relations policy. It is more than a denial of self-seeking. This tradition is a constant and practical reminder that personal ambition has no place in A.A. In it, each member becomes an active guardian of our Fellowship.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 183
The basic concept of humility is expressed in the Eleventh Tradition: It allows me to participate completely in the program in such a simple, yet, profound manner; it fulfills my need to be an integral part of a significant whole. Humility brings me closer to the actual spirit of togetherness and oneness, without which I could not stay sober. In remembering that every member is an example of sobriety, each one living the Eleventh Tradition, I am able to experience freedom because each one of us is anonymous.
From the book Daily Reflections
© Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought for the Day
The A.A. way is the way of sobriety, and yet there are slips. Why do these slips occur? Why don't we all accept A.A. and stay sober from then on? There are many reasons, but it has been proved without exception that once we have become alcoholics we can never drink successfully again. This has never been disproved by any case we know of. Many alcoholics have tried drinking after a period of sobriety from a few days to a few years and no one that we know of has been successful in becoming a normal drinker. Could I be the only exception to this rule?
Meditation for the Day
"We are gathered together in Thy name." First, we are gathered together, bound by a common loyalty to God and to each other. Then, when this condition has been fulfilled, God is present with us. Then, when God is there and one with us, we voice a common prayer. Then it follows that our prayer will be answered according to God's will. Then, when our prayer is answered, we are bound together in a lasting fellowship of the spirit.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be loyal to God and to others. I pray that my life today may be lived close to His and to theirs.
From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day
© Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation
NA - Just for Today
Our Higher Power's Care
"We believe that our Higher Power will take care of us."
Basic Text pg. 55
Our program is based on the idea that the application of simple principles can produce profound effects in our lives. One such principle is that, if we ask, our Higher Power will care for us. Because this principle is so basic, we may tend to ignore it. Unless we learn to consciously apply this spiritual truth, we may miss out on something as essential to our recovery as breathing is to life itself.
What happens when we find ourselves stressed or panicked? If we have consistently sought to improve our relationship with our Higher Power, we'll have no problem. Rather than acting rashly, we will stop for a moment and briefly remind ourselves of particular instances in the past when our Higher Power has shown its care for us. This will assure us that our Higher Power is still in charge of our lives. Then, we will seek guidance and power for the situation at hand and proceed calmly, confident that our lives are in God's hands.
"Our program is a set of principles," our White Booklet tells us. The more consistently we seek to improve our conscious appreciation of these principles, the more readily we will be able to apply them.
Just for today: I will seek to improve my conscious contact with the Higher Power that cares for me. When the need arises, I know I will be able to trust in that care.
pg. 347
From the book Just for Today
© Copyright 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Thought for Today
"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar." -- Raymond Lindquist
Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens. ~~Jimi Hendrix
"Tough times don't last, only tough folks do"
It’s the fear of what comes after the doing that makes the doing hard to do.
(thanks John G.)
Buddha/Zen Thoughts
Happy is he who lives contented in solitude, is well-versed in the Doctrine and who has realized it. Happy is he who lives in this world free from ill-will, and is benevolent towards all beings. Happy is he who lives in this world free from passion, has overcome sensual enjoyment, and who has attained mastership over the conceit of "I am." This indeed is the highest happiness.
-Udana 2.1
Native American
"Life, the circle, a measurement with no beginning and no end."
--Phillip Deere, MUSKOGEE-CREEK
The circle teaches us how the Creator made things and how to live. It teaches us how we should look at creation. Life travels in a circle. In the East is the baby, to the South is the youth, in the West is the adult and in the North is the Elder. Then we return to the Earth Mother to start the cycle again. We observe what is `around us' from the center of the circle. This develops our point of view. We must be careful not to become self-centered.
Great Spirit, let me observe life from the circle's point of view.
Keep It Simple
One is happy as the result of one's own efforts.--- George Sand
Happiness is not an accident. It comes from following the spiritual voice found in each of us.
This isn't always easy. Sometimes, the voice tells us to do things we're afraid of. For Example, if we're lonely and the voice tells us to call someone on our phone list, we may make excuses to not do it. Again, the voice may say, "Just make the call. It will be okay." If we follow the
voice, we will find happiness. The spiritual voice inside us speaks of care and love. It will never tell us to hurt others or ourselves. It's our Higher Power's voice . It's what Step Eleven calls "conscious contact." If we follow this guiding voice, it will lead us to happiness.
Prayer for the Day: I pray that I'll come to know my Higher Power by listening to the spiritual voice in me.
Action for the Day: Today, I'll meditate and listen to my higher power gentle voice within.
Big Book
"...we have ceased fighting anything or anyone—even alcohol."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 84
CONVIVIALITY
On a recent trip away from home I had a real surprise
I had not thought it could occur, felt I was immunized
It happened on a busy street where people chose to meet
To eat and drink and have some fun and listen to the beat
The place is known as Duval Street, down in the Florida Keys
I’d gone down there to just relax, enjoy the scenic breeze
I’d been there many times before but this time it felt strange
A thought arose I did not like, I tried to make it change
That thought had come on suddenly, while walking down the street
Each way I looked I saw these friends who did not act discreet
They talked and laughed and drank their beer, enjoying a good time
That brought me back to my old days, the message was sublime
I used to do the same as them when our friends got together
We’d play guitars and sing old songs and drinking was a pleasure
But came a time, for me, when alcohol was no more fun
It took control of what I did, my torment had begun
I gave it up some years ago, ‘twas not a simple feat
The bottle tried to lure me back, pretend it was a treat
Now time has passed, the urge to drink’s been lifted from my mind
It’s hold on me has been removed, temptation’s been confined
Or so I thought, as I perused, the action in my sight
I found myself desiring to join in one more night
I knew that it was reckless, just to have that crazy thought
It was so unexpected and it filled my mind with fraught
Where the hell did that come from, I had to ask myself
I did not have the urge to drink, that thought I could repel
But later on, it dawned on me, it was not about drinking
What I missed was their fellowship, that caused my wishful thinking
I wanted what those people had, to be with my old friends
To retell stories from our past and laugh and joke again
But could it ever be the same without taking a drink
And then a new thought came to mind, it made me stop and thing
The thing that I was looking for, I’d had it all along
It’s called the AA fellowship and that’s where I belong
I meet with other AA friends for breakfast, sometimes lunch
We do it all, sans alcohol, we are a happy bunch
I was relieved to know those thoughts were not brought on my booze
Enjoying time with AA friends should never be confused
With having to have alcohol to spend good times with friends
As long as we have fellowship, this story never ends.
Larry R.
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