I am not supposed to worship the people, pomp, things, money, the world, the Big Book, even AA. I am only to worship God and Truth. So keeping that in mind, it's a jungle out there! And it depends on where I go, too.
Sometimes I have to be really gentle with myself and put myself in places where people are more apt to be healthy and kind. Other times I can't help who's around me or where I have to go so I sort of just mind my business and put blinders on. I don't talk to anyone or make eye contact much. I'm in and out.
Spiritual guide says there is an emotional depression in this country, but I didn't need him to tell me that, I feel it anyway. Something has got to change! We have got to be kinder to each other instead of withholding kindness.
Helping others in AND out of AA gives me esteem so the world and its people don't dominate me so much. The more I am part of the solution, the more confident I feel. The right kind of confidence. Anything that gets in the way of my being of maximum usefulness to God has to be done away with. This is a matter of life and death for me.
If I didn't practice what I've learned in this program, I'd lose everything that makes me me ...
It disturbs me from time to time how much I get caught just going through the motions ... it has come to me, that we repeat prayers, like the Serenity prayer and the Lord's prayer so frequently, that they can lose their meaning, or at the very least, we can lose our sincerity when saying these prayers ... I, for one, try to be very aware or conscious of to whom I'm praying and for what purpose ... in doing so, I feel a closer presence with God ... and this closer presence grants to me the worry free life I enjoy today ...
I have learned that for me, prayer is not to be taken lightly ... I chose to start and end each day in prayer ... I also have personal relationships and experiences proving to me the power of our Lord in situations where a number of Doctors were at a loss to explain certain medical miracles ... once with a 'terminal' teenage friend with cancer (who's still alive and cancer free today after the Doctors pronounced him incurable ... we had a prayer vigil ...) ... and another with one of our AA group members ... the funeral home was contacted and family brought in ... we had our AA group prayer vigil on his behalf ... Doctors were at a loss to explain his non-functioning organs, suddenly coming back to life ... that was four years ago and he still comes to meetings ... and the other one was my Dad who went on to live a few more years ... in every case, the Doctors said it wasn't anything they did to bring them back ...
I don't proclaim that everyone will have the same results ... but life is easier for me when I don't try to control the results of each day ... and especially when I practice the principles of the program of AA ... I keep going to meetings because I find that it prepares me for anything that can happen in life ... I've been through a lot since getting sober ... and I'm still here ... and Lord willing, I'll be here another day ...
Love Ya'll,
Pappy
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Thursday 25th of October 2012 09:53:53 PM
-- Edited by Pythonpappy on Thursday 25th of October 2012 09:55:27 PM
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Getting too caught up in the moment, instead of accepting life as it happens. That's just my version, unconventional or not. I read somewhere that foolishness and self seeking are the addict's version of the serenity prayer. There's no serenity, but plenty of self centered fear. That's so true.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Friday 26th of October 2012 01:18:33 PM
odat wrote:This is a matter of life and death for me.
How do you handle life on life's terms?
Thanks for the great post Odat. For me the answer to the question is really trying to honestly put the Serenity prayer into action in my life, If we break it down there are 3 sections and components (acceptance, courage, wisdom)
A. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
B. The courage to change the things I can
C. The wisdom to know the difference
My first years in recovery I got part A down. I finally learned how to accept things. I knew if I was walking around angry, resentful and disturbed, my chances of staying sober would be slim... to drink was to die. Avoidance was the best I could muster. I could control my actions, reactions, where I when and what I did.
I later started getting honest about the other parts of the prayer, I was using acceptance as a cop-out for issues I needed to ask God for courage on.
I found with God's help, could change more than I thought. The problem was always: if I tried to change something and it didn't get the correct result, I was disturbed. I needed to get out of the results business and leave that to God. Do my diligence, then sleep well at night.
God has given me gifts, I try to do his will and live within my values. Will always probably be looking for the wisdom to know the difference, its part of my 10th step inventory. I think I've made strides. Sometimes you need to shut up, and sometimes you need to stand up.
-- Edited by Rob84 on Saturday 27th of October 2012 12:38:24 AM
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
I treat others as I would want to be treated. Try not to feed off others feelings and be true to God in the moment no matter how others are treating me. Try and remember I'm not perfect, I'm never going to get everything right, and no one else is either.
Thanks for the post Odat - hope you're move went well and you're finding what you're looking for : )
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
odat wrote:This is a matter of life and death for me.
How do you handle life on life's terms?
I think I've made strides. Sometimes you need to shut up, and sometimes you need to stand up. Rob
-- Edited by Rob84 on Friday 26th of October 2012 04:49:51 PM
Ah, so very true, but how to decide?
You always have to get us thinking, don't you Mike? I can't take credit for my strides, but doing the below has been key for me.
We ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. Under these conditions we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives.
In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. What used to be the hunch or the occasional inspiration gradually becomes a working part of the mind. We don't struggle.
We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while.
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Right. So nowhere there does it say to "stand up for myself or others." If God is to direct my thinking, I'm to sit with discomfort and bring it to Him and grow...I'm to act as He would have me act...only doing the whole previous plan from steps 1-9 gave me the ability to do that...and in Step 11 I get into Truth...it doesn't matter what anyone "does" to me.,,no one can really hurt me. Also, other people's relationships are none of my business and it's either codependent or because I have a selfish motive if I get involved.
I can't take credit for my strides, but doing the below has been key for me.