Does anyone even read the daily reflections or 23 hours a day!?
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
Lani, I believe it was Danielle who posted once that she wondered if anyone even read her inputs. My reply to you is the same as was hers: I personally usually don't reply to "Daily Reflections", 24 hrs a day, ect. because these are things that I CONTEMPLATE or meditate upon. Things that are to me worthy of my time "in silence". They usually are writings/reads that sort of nudge me, if you will, into a deeper heart to heart with self as well as one with HP/God. (Sort of like time with the Good Book/Bible.) I'm sure I am not the only one so don't feel this part of your input to the board is worthless. In fact, for me, it is the opposite.
I've been off line a few days. Server down, rough physically demanding week, plus my basement flooded to where I could not turn on furnace ect. Ugh!! It is now in the past..... well most of it....(think a field tile is broken as water still is in basement but the pump got it low enough for heat.) Anyway catching up.......
CONGRATULATIONS to you on marking 5mos. sober. Remarkable isn't it?! You did well. Same to "JC" on 30 days. What you have gained you have given back by example. Keep it up girls!!!!
24 hours is one of the best. I don't click it often to be honest. I'm into other stuff lately, I must have read it every day for the first five years. That and as Bill See's it were Big as far as daily stuff. I have been into the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius and an African Missionary named Andrew Murray. Both very religious in nature so I don't mention them much if at all.
I can see how typing those out every day could be a nice meditation in themselves. Whether people read or comment is a moot point. We ultimately do 12th step work for ourselves. I have spent years banging on certain service things without a word being said in appreciation and then when I'm not trying at all, people will start coming up and thanking me for nothing. I can't figure it out. :)
Do you have any thoughts on the topics? If you are looking for discussion on the topic you might ask for any thoughts or offer a few of your own. It will be good practice when you chair regular meetings. One of the hard challenges in chairing a meeting are picking out the AA related topics amongst general problems and shares people come up with in the beginning of the meeting.
For instance, todays topic for 3/22 might be "surrender"
It could also be about progress from a dependence on self or the AA group to a dependence on God. This is quite a normal path of spiritual growth from a secular dependence on the human will to a gradual leaning onto a power outside ourselves, namely other people, and finally maturing into a dependence on God.
Or, it could also be about the collapse of the delusion of the pomposity of the will that we experience in Victory. Rather than giving God credit througout our former life we had come to the false conclusion that our victories were of our own making threw inner strength. Somehow it was in our defeats though that we recognized the steady hand of God at work through the rougher times. Our overly inflated ego had pushed aside any "luck" in our victories as we rushed to claim all the credit for our selves.
It also talks of the obsession of alcohol being lifted by God and the 12 steps. This is tricky because we have a compulsion coupled with an obsession. The compulsion is removed by staying away from the first drink but this obsession of the mind requires God and it also requires a sincere housecleaning so we don't stumble against old pitfalls.
These readings can mean many things to many people. There is no wrong message each of us can get. In the old days, after a morning meditation the goal was to sit quietly and listen and if any felt God had moved them to speak or have a new understanding they shared this and the others gently scrutinized any communications for Gods hand being upon them. We often make mistakes. Its still practiced by the Quakers I believe. Small private groups, This was the beginning of the real group conscience. AA's core founders looked each day for direction to put AA and its hope out into the world of suffering alcoholics.
I only commented not b/c no one replies, its how many people view it! Wasnt sure if it was a waste of time and space. No hard feelings, just curious. I personally read it daily, not always comment. So....its a keeper than!? Thanks didnt mean to sound whiny or anything! Love that you all sent input!!! Lani
Oh Phil...I lost he hour and havent gained it back lol
-- Edited by lani at 01:02, 2008-03-23
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
"Or, it could also be about the collapse of the delusion of the pomposity of the will that we experience in Victory. Rather than giving God credit throughout our former life we had come to the false conclusion that our victories were of our own making threw inner strength. Somehow it was in our defeats though that we recognized the steady hand of God at work through the rougher times. Our overly inflated ego had pushed aside any "luck" in our victories as we rushed to claim all the credit for our selves."
This is exactly what I used to do. When something good would happen or come about, I'd exclaim to myself and everyone, "The Kid is good". But when things went wrong, I blamed God. The only real time that I talked to God was when I was in trouble, usually of my own doing, then I'd ask him to get me out of it. I'd even given up on the "Christmas God" where you'd ask God to help you win the lottery etc..
Then one day, before sobriety, that I was not so absorbed with myself I walked outside to find a beautiful sunny spring day. A wonderful feeling came over me. I truly believe now that it was a spiritual experience. I immediately thought of God, and how I only spoke to God when I needed something and usually to get out of trouble, which HE/SHE did always did. I usually failed to give thanks, taking credit for it myself which fed my denial and led to more of the same. Also during this revelation, I realized that, like taken advantage of a friendship and using someone, I never spoke to God when things were going good. Never thanked him for a good day, a good life... So I did and a feeling came over me. One of those warm and fuzzy completely content to be walking through the woods type of feelings, hard to describe, but I hadn't had that feeling in a long time. It wasn't long after that that my sobriety began or began working for me. Since then, I've developed a daily dialog and try to thank God for each day, and every good thing that happens in it.
Must be a common denominator among all of us to be blaming/thankful of God like Dean posted. I now get on my knees daily and thank/ask/talk/wonder/ponder to my HP! What a difference it has made in my life..... Not always perfect but Im trying to be thankful each day.
Today its not all about me....(at least not totally!!!!) lol Lani
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"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
I read them EVERYDAY.... Great for meditation, food for thought, daily reminders I'm still an alcoholic..... I started posting them for those who enjoy D.R. and might not have a book or for the newcomer (it was a great way for me to begin to understand as a newbie).....Bet if the subject line were
"Slipped, almost slipped, relapse, ugh!, Yuck!, OH SHIT! " etc, etc. they'd get a TON of views..... :(
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. "
