We got a kick out of the first few drinks, before we got stupefied by alcohol. For a while, the world seemed to look brighter. But how about the letdown, the terrible depression that comes the morning after? In A.A., we get a real kick: not a false feeling of exhilaration, but a real feeling of satisfaction with ourselves, self-respect, and a feeling of friendliness toward the world. We got a sort of pleasure from drinking. For a while we thought we were happy. But it's only an illusion. The hangover the next day is the opposite of pleasure. In A.A., am I getting real pleasure and serenity & peace?
Meditation for the Day ~
I will practice love, because lack of love will block the way. I will try to see the good in all people, those I like and also those who fret me and go against the grain. They are all children of God. I will try to give love; otherwise, how can I dwell in God's spirit whence nothing unloving can come? I will try to get along with all people, because the more love I give away, the more I will have.
Prayer for the Day ~
I pray that I may do all I can to love others, in spite of their many faults. I pray that as I love, so will I be loved.
Hazelden
(Let it be a God or Higher Power of your own understanding)
-- Edited by Sobrietyspell at 11:59, 2008-02-02
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Rabbi Kushner, in his chapter on "Awareness, First Light"
Most people remember that light was the first thing God made in the creation sequence, as recorded in the opening chapter of Genesis. And let their be light. And there was light. Only a few people know on which day of the creation God created the sun, moon, stars and heavenly luminaries. The answer is the fourth day. You dont have to be a scholar to see that we have a problem here. If all the sources of light werent created until day four, then from where did the light of day one come? Kabbalists explain that the light God made on the first day was not optical light but the light of ultimate awareness or human consciousness raising itself from the dark oblivion of unconsciousness. It was a consciousness-like light so dazzling that in it, Adam and Eve could gaze from one end of space to the other end of time. But then when He saw that they couldnt be trusted (dont eat from the tree) God realized that they could not be trusted and could destroy creation with this Light. Were God to completely withdraw that Light, the universe likewise could not endure, it wouldimplode. Therefore, God took the light and hid it the light of the first day, and hid it in the material stuff of this world. There are sparks of it in literally everything. In the words of the Psalmist Light is hidden away for the righteous. And whenever we behave in a holy way we free sparks and heighten our own awareness.
I always need to work extra hard in this area, to remember and see the Divine in everyone. If I can pull myself up and out of my normal reactionary mode ( and boy, I am a reactionary) and look for that spark? I'm alot more capable of accepting and releasing the people places and things that I allow to influence me. hugs wren
