Well...Interesting discussion came up in the come to believe sunday meeting this morning.
Of course being a gay meeting, the movie Les Miserables was discussed (LOL) but it was worthy of discussion.
The entire movie/play is about suffering, oppression, poverty, and ultimately salvation. These are themes that all of us in recovery can identify with persumably.
Of course the most interesting conversation generated by multiple people was probably the most powerful line in the play/movie which is basically "If you have loved another person, you have seen God."
Turns out this is not a new concept either as I found bible scripture basically stating the same thing: John 4:12 - No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
I am pretty far from a "bible" person. However, I no longer turn my back on the source of any spiritual inspiration.
What do you guys think about the concept of knowing God through loving others? What do you think about having "Love" as your higher power.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
I was taught that the kind of understanding of a Higher Power thats most important to find in our 2nd Step is an understanding that can "help" us.The only guidelines are it is loving and caring and greater than us..Many have just identified what is not' a Power greater than themselves before actually identifying what it is. And this is also a process and not an event,changing over time. for some,depending on backround,it may not be something you just wake up one day with and know this Power can restore you to sanity.My own Higher Power has always been the same for me, but thru work and years it developed into a relationship rather than one of early life instruction. ..For me, this is not "fake it to make it' it is more of "Faith being sure of what I hoped for and certain what I have not seen" Page 569 of Alcoholics Anonymous has a very helpful statement.Heres an excerpt if you havent checked it out lately.
Among our rapidly growing membership of thousands of alcoholics such transformations, though frequent, are by no means the rule. Most of our experiences are what the psychologist William James calls the educational variety because they develop slowly over a period of time. Quite often friends of the newcomer are aware of the difference long before he is himself. He finally realizes that he has undergone a profound alteration in his reaction to life; that such a change could hardly have been brought about by himself alone. What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished by years of self discipline. With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves
So LOVE it may be for you and our Big Book does say our primary purpose is to be of maximum service to God(of our own understanding)and to others ,coincides with another Spiritual Book that states its 2 greatest commands are to LOVE God above all things and to love others as ourselves...Sounds like LOVE to me!! Peace brother,,,This is just my stuff, I know WE do not have to even understand what our Higher Power is ,its just being able to use that Power to keep us in sobriety ,a day at a time..."I'm sure it is why we are told" More is always revealed!!!
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
I'm actually going to see this movie today... With one of my gay male friends lol! Can't wait! I think that if you feel love, God is working within you. I've has very few experiences with pure, true love.. It's a bit of a new concept for me. It wasn't until I began to feel the presence of God that I began to feel love. I think they go hand in hand.
The absolute best description of 'Love' I ever in my life came across is contained within the book "The greatest Thing in the World" by Henry Drummond ... a book that Dr Bob and the Good Old Timers read ... (I had to order it) ... (small book ... one evening read)
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
I think of Love being the way of God, not necessarily "God".
For me, I learned about love and how to love in the rooms of AA. First by "fitting myself to be of maximum service to God and others". I had to get myself right first. If I'm in love with the drink or drug, I can't love anything else.
Dr Bob said, "Our Twelve Steps, when simmered down to the last, resolve themselves into the words love and service. We understand what love is, and we understand what service is. So let's bear those two things in mind."
I like the description of love given in some old AA literature that I was taught to follow....
"When we offer love, we offer our life; are we prepared to give it? When another offers us love, he offers his life; have we the grace to receive it? When love is offered, God is there; have we received Him. The will to love is God's will; have we taken the Third Step? Ask yourself, "Is this ugly or is it beautiful?" If it's truly beautiful then it is the way of love, it is the way of A.A., and it is the will of God as we understand Him."
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
