Yeppers...that was the topic at this mornings AA at the bay, Saturday version, home group meeting. Go figure...really?...alcoholics and alcoholic/addicts talking about love and tolerance of others who may be threatening their recovery? Has recovery become soooo valuable that a recovering alcoholic would give up resentment, rage, judgements, condemnations and all the other negative tools I use to use when I was drinking to keep others away or off of my back and in recognition that I was "the" man not to be screwed with in anyway? Really!!??
Yes Really. The consequence of employing the tool of love and tolerance is so much much better for my peace of mind, serenity and sobriety than any other self centered...ego centric reaction I might feel entitled to. The sharing from the group members after the topic was keyed was awesome and very supportive to understanding and correcting my own situation presently. I have always been a "don't roll over for anything or anyone wanting to subdue me" in the past and so most always I am in a "fight" frame of mind and spirit when threatened. I am grateful to HP for this mornings meeting and for all of the other lessons bringing me up to this morning because I have more energy to accept and then work that which brings me consequences that are within recovery rather than within my illness.
I remember that I am going thru an amends situation for an alcoholism event which happened in 11/1974 where under the same conditions I left a people of culture not my own in a state of crises from not "rolling over" and leaving with a warrant for my arrest. This is an arrest of another form...spiritual arrest conducted by my Higher Power and this program of recovery. My Higher Power want's my self centeredness arrested and I'm balking...I have always balked. I haven't drank and balked; I'm doing it without the anesthesia of our favor chemical pain killer and am grateful that I don't have to do it alone. Alone I am the problem and my only solution is God and the program; so now I'm not alone.
Thanks for standing with me and being responsible to our recovery. (((hugs)))
Speaking of topics at the meeting on that rock that you live on, you never asked me about my trip to the your beloved newest state
Or did my feeble mind forget already?
I get there eventually - back with God - it takes me a while sometimes, but the pain comes and then I remember : ) At some point, I am hoping to remember without pain. Sometimes I get to.... but that's only because you guys keep showing up here, and then I do too, and then things get better... never worse.
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
I see love and tolerance as steps beyond anger and bitterness - resentment.. The number one offender in sending us back out to fight the Four Horsemen.
So I try and live in love, but I guard against resentments. It is a progression for me. Progress not perfection.
Great topic.
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"I spent a lifetime in hell and it only took me twelve steps to get to heaven."
"Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you."
Thanks, Jerry. I often find myself reminding myself that love and tolerance is our code. When I'm feeling a bit crunchy I try to show some love and tolerance in a situation. It works.
