I was actually looking for things to do while on the computer this afternoon....I really don't have any problems...I have extraordinary Peace of Mind....Most of my reading is of a spiritual nature. I have been sober now over 43 years of continuous sobriety, since my very first meeting thanks to AA.
Although I don't go to meetings anymore.. there are none available...Every morning my spiritual reading is AA: The 24 hr book, Reflections, a message from "As Bill sees it"... The Prayer of St. Francis.. and a message from a Non-AA book. "This routine is automatic and keeps who and What I am FRESH... I continually thank him for the Blessings I receive throughout the Day.
But what I really wanted to say is that I am ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMED... I sobered up through the fellowship at the same time in those very early days...Father Martin's Chalk Talk and his other audio tape on Feelings; both had an enormous effect on me. I saw him several times in person his message always rang true to me..
I was diddling around and punched his name into google u tube....WOW...."He was right there with his messages at my fingertips...I googled AA resources and again OVERWHELMED by the ENORMITY.
I took a deep breath...Thank God I'm sober...Thank God I have lived such a wonderful life....Thank God it even gets better.. BUT I DO WORK AT IT.
I don't have any advice...I learned THAT does not work...only makes more than a few angry...What works for me is the journey through the 12 steps....The God of MY UNDERSTANDING is EXTRAORDINARY...I'm not religious but spiritual...I respect the common Christian Tradition...but seem quite at home as a Western Buddhist that I find extraordinarily compatible with all the 12 steps.....I am very lucky and very grateful
My gratitude is for AA the 12 steps all the thousands of meetings attended a great sober happy life ...For me it all works...It works very simply if you work it...The inner journey and how it affects my outer life is overwhelming. I think what really prompted me to write this message is finding all the wisdom Father Martin shared and it's All right there for you. I'm a bit of a cynic.. and I wouldn't give you two hoots for anyone else I have ever heard.. but then again there is a wrench in AA for every nut. (LOL). HANG IN THERE
My experience is very near yours ... but 9 rather than 43 years ... 'I am not religious, but spiritual' as well ... practicing steps 10, 11, and 12 keep my mind and my thinking where they need to be ... I remember reading all the AA conference approved literature plus many more books on AA's history (over 9 years ago) ... and with 'today's' technology, it's absolutely incredible the amount of information that can be had with the tap of a few keyboard keys ... ... ... The KEY here is to put that information to good use ... (and to learn from it)
Thank God He carried me through the last couple years of serious medical issues ... Seems He/She has plans for keep'n me around for some reason ... time to look for someone else 'in need' ... ... ... Time to grab my AA tool bag and go to work ... there is no shortage of those suffering from the disease we know so well ... ... ... time to share that there IS Hope for those who WANT it ...
Love ya and God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
