How often do we sit in AA meetings and hear the speaker declare, "But I haven't yet got the spiritual angle." Prior to this statement, he had described a miracle of transformation which had occurred in him -- not only his release from alcohol, but a complete change in his whole attitude toward life and the living of it. It is apparent to nearly everyone else present that he has received a great gift; " . . . except that he doesn't seem to know it yet!" We well know that this questioning individual will tell us six months or a year hence that he has found faith in God. LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, p. 275
A spiritual experience can be the realization that a life which once seemed empty and devoid of meaning is now joyous and full. In my life today, daily prayer and meditation, coupled with living the Twelve Steps, has brought about an inner peace and feeling of belonging which was missing when I was drinking.
In the past, we kept right on drinking in spite of all the trouble we got into. We were foolish enough to believe that drinking could still be fun in spite of everything that happened to us. When we came into A.A., we found a lot of people who, like ourselves, had had fun with drinking, but who now admitted that liquor had become nothing but trouble for them. And when we found that this thing had happened to a lot of other people besides ourselves, we realized that perhaps we weren't such odd ducks after all. Have I learned to admit that for me drinking has ceased to be fun and has become nothing but trouble?
Meditation For The Day
The lifeline, the line of rescue, is the line from the soul to God. On one end of the lifeline is our faith and on the other end is God's power. It can be a strong line and no soul can be overwhelmed who is linked to God by it. I will trust in this lifeline and never be afraid. God will save me from doing wrong and from the cares and troubles of life. I will look to God for help and trust Him for aid when I am emotionally upset.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that no lack of trust or fearfulness will make me disloyal to God. I pray that I may keep a strong hold on the lifeline of faith.
Hazelden
(Let it be a God or Higher Power of your own understanding)
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Hello! I am new to this site but not to sobriety. This topic resonates with me as I recall the early months in AA when I was sure I would never get "the spiritual side." Yes, I did what I was told.....went to meetings (including those before & after the meetings), did service work, got a sponsor, and didn't drink...but the I wrestled with the notion of spirituality. My religious upbringing had left me with a bad taste, and I was sure that if I turned over control that I was doomed. What I didn't realize was that I was experiencing spiritual changes despite my best efforts to resist! My sponsor told me that referring to the spiritual side of the program was like referring to the wet side of the ocean: It's all spiritual.
Thank you all for being here & sharing this wonderful recovery business with me. I'm so glad & grateful that it's progressive despite what I might think sometimes. God is having its way with me in all unpredicatable yet humbly hoped for & accepting ways. I am so grateful, I cannot tell you lol I'm so happy you're here. Thank you for coming back. Love to you all. Not alone, Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Murrill, I loved your reference about "the wet side of the ocean". I'd like to use it again if I can remember it. Have trouble remembering the punchlines and recalling related quotations when the time is right. Is there a saying to help with remembering?
