Until we had talked with complete candour of our conflicts, and had listened to someone else do the same thing, we still didn’t belong.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
After four years in A.A. I was able to discover the freedom from the burden of buried emotions that had caused me so much pain. With the help of A.A., and extra counselling, the pain was released and I felt a complete sense of belonging and peace. I also felt a joy and a love of God that I had never experienced before. I am in awe of the power of Step Five.
Twenty–Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought For The Day
We can depend on those members of any group who have gone all out for the program. They come to meetings. They work with other alcoholics. We don’t have to worry about their slipping. They ’re loyal members of the group. I’m trying to be a loyal member of the group. When I’m tempted to take a drink, I tell myself that if I did I’d be letting down the other members who are the best friends I have. Am I going to let them down, if I can help it?
Meditation For The Day
Wherever there is true fellowship and love between people, God’s spirit is always there as the Divine Third. In all human relationships, the Divine Spirit is what brings them together. When a life is changed through the channel of another person, it is God, the Divine Third, who always makes the change, using the person as a means. The moving power behind all spiritual things, all personal relationships between people is God, the Divine Third, who is always there. No personal relationships can be entirely right without the presence of God’s spirit.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that I may be used as a channel by God’s spirit. I pray that I may feel that the Divine Third is always there to help me.
As Bill Sees It
We live in a world riddled with envy. To a greater or lesser degree, everybody is infected with it. From this defect we must surely get a warped yet definite satisfaction. Else why would we consume so much time wishing for what we have not, rather than working for it, or angrily looking for attributes we shall never have, instead of adjusting to the fact, and accepting it?
Each of us would like to live at peace with himself and with his fellows. We would like to be assured that the grace of God can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We have seen that character defects based upon short–sighted or unworthy desires are the obstacles that block our path toward these objectives. We now see clearly that we have been making unreasonable demands upon ourselves, upon others, and upon God.
Walk in Dry Places
Unfair People
Relations
Now and then, we encounter people who are almost blatant in their unfairness to others. We may make a 200–mile drive to a customer who is completely unprepared to see us, despite having had advanced notice. Or we may have a friend who is openly critical of our shortcomings while completely overlooking his or her own. Unfair though these people may be, they give us the opportunity to exercise spiritual muscles. We can improve ourselves and the world by refusing to retaliate when such unfairness occurs. The long–term benefit is that many of these unfair people change or fade out of our lives. As we handle such things spiritually, we recall times when we too were unfair, and we realize that such faults are part of the human condition. We are lucky people because we’re being given the opportunity to raise the human condition to a higher level. We also hear that “life’s isn’t fair, it’s just there ”. Not understanding life completely , we’re not sure about its fairness. What we are sure about is that we value fairness and can show more of it now that we’re sober. I will not seek out unfair treatment today, but neither will I be upset if it occurs. If it does, I’ll deal with it as another lesson in my spiritual growth.
Keep It Simple
An honest man’s the noblest work of God.–Alexander Pope Step five says,“ Admitted to God, to ourselves, and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” When we did this Step, the person we admitted our wrongs to didn’t run away or reject us. That person stuck with us. Chances are, we were told that we are quite human. And working Step Five helped us to see that we can change, now that we’re sober. The most important part of Step five is the act of being totally honest about ourselves. Then we know that relationships–with our Higher Power, ourselves, and others–can be built. We have faced the truth. Now we know we never have to lie.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, I know no Fifth Step is perfect. Please help me be as honest as I can in doing my Fifth Step and at other times.
Action for the Day: If I’ve avoided doing a Fifth Step, I’ll talk to my sponsor about it today.
“The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keep out the joy.”–Jim Rohn
What men and women need is encouragement. . . Instead of always harping on a man’s faults, tell him of his virtues. Try to pull him out of his rut of bad habits.–Eleanor H. Porter
If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.–Chinese Proverb
An airport is where you go to waste time waiting that you’re going to save flying.–Cited in Bits & Pieces
I know that what comes to me today is a tiny part of God’s big plan for my life. I am not alone.–A Woman’s Spirit
Father Leo’s Daily Meditation
Procrastination
“Procrastination – the art of keeping up with yesterday.”–Don Marquis Today I try to do all that I have set myself to do in a given day. I make a list of things that I need to do and a list of those things that I want to do – the things I “Need” to do usually take priority. This was not always the case. As a drinking alcoholic my life was littered with promises that were never kept, intentions that were never honoured, appointments and meetings that did not happen. I pushed everything into tomorrow – and tomorrow never came. My understanding of spirituality involves a responsibility for those things that I need to do. When I awake, I thank God for my sleep and I make a silent intention not to drink today; then I face my responsibilities. I separate my “Needs” from my “Wants” and I remember that I have a responsibility to other people: family, friends and colleagues. Today I am learning to live in my day.
Lord, may I do the things I should do and may I find time for those things I want to do.
Daily Inspiration
Stand tall and smile often and it will be very difficult to be unhappy. Lord, may my disposition reflect the joy and peace that is Your Will. When we give in to fears and worries they will take charge of our lives. Lord, I place my trust in You so that I may experience every opportunity and not miss in life that which is meant for me.
Constributed By: Shreerang Karkare
