today's readings

June 11

Daily Reflections

FAMILY OBLIGATIONS

. . . a spiritual life which does not include . . . family obligations may not be so perfect after all. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 129

I can be doing great in the program--applying it at meetings, at work, and in service activities--and find that things have gone to pieces at home. I expect my loved ones to understand, but they cannot. I expect them to see and value my progress, but they don't--unless I show them. Do I neglect their needs and desire for my attention and concern? When I'm around them, am I irritable or boring? Are my "amends" a mumbled "Sorry," or do they take the form of patience and tolerance? Do I preach to them, trying to reform or "fix" them? Have I ever really cleaned house with them? "The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it." (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 83).

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Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

We alcoholics have to believe in some Power greater than ourselves. Yes, we have to believe in God. Not to believe in a Higher Power drives us to atheism. Atheism, it has been said before, is blind faith in the strange proposition that this universe originated in a cipher and aimlessly rushes nowhere. That's practically impossible to believe. So we turn to that Divine Principle in the universe that we call God. Have I stopped trying to run my own life?

Meditation For The Day

"Lord, we thank Thee for the great gift of peace, that peace which passeth all understanding, that peace which the world can neither give nor take away." That is the peace that only God can give in the midst of a restless world and surrounded by trouble and difficulty. To know that peace is to have received the stamp of the kingdom of God. When you have earned that peace, you are fit to judge between true and false values, between the values of the kingdom of God and the values of all that the world has to offer.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that today I may have inner peace. I pray that today I may be at peace with myself. ************************************************** *********

As Bill Sees It

"Let's Keep It Simple", p. 162

"We need to distinguish sharply between spiritual simplicity and functional simplicity."

"When we say that A.A. advocates no theological proposition except God as we understand Him, we greatly simplify A.A. life by avoiding conflict and exclusiveness.

"But when we get into questions of action by groups, by areas, and by A.A. as a whole, we find that we must to some extent organize to carry the message--or else face chaos. And chaos is not simplicity."

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I learned that the temporary or seeming good can often be the deadly enemy of the permanent best. When it comes to survival for A.A., nothing short of our best will be good enough.

1. Letter, 1966 2. A.A. Comes Of Age, p. 294

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Walk in Dry Places

What can we change ? Handling limitations. There's always danger that resignation will masquerade as acceptance. In 12 Step programs, we must learn the difference between the two. Resignation refers to putting up with conditions that we should actually change; it regards self-imposed limitation. Acceptance meansx recognizing reality and becoming comfortable with it. We might resign ourselves to bad treatment that is unacceptable, or we might putup with personalshortcomings thatwecould change. When someone points this out, we defend ourselves by asserting points this out., we defend ourselves by asserting that we're practicing acceptance. As human beings and children of God, we are entitled to live with dignity and to receive fair treatment. We should never resign ourselves to anything that robs us of this basic humanity. Our Higher Power will show us how to eliminateresignation ifwehavebeen practicing it. The message of the program is that we never have to accept the things we can and should change. Today if I am uncomfortable with something, I'll ask myself if I've been practicing resignation instead of acceptance. Theremay bemany things in my life that can and should be changed.

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Keep It Simple

Who is the bravest hero? He who turns his enemy into a friend. --- Hebrew Proverb In recovery we take our worst enemy, addiction, and turn it around. We were ashamed of our addiction. Over time we become proud of our recovery. We were our own worst enemy. Now we're our own best friend. We are brave people. Being brave is about facing our fears. Often we think brave people don't get afraid, butthis isn'ttrue. Bravepeoplelearn to stayput, even when their knees are shaking. Many times in recovery, we will want to run when we should stay put. We may even thinkaboutusing chemicals again. We need to remember our bravery and how we turned our worst enemy into a friend. Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, teach me when to run and when to stay put. Help me be brave. Action for the Day: I will claim bravery today. I'll hold my head up high and be proud of how far I've come. I now have nothing to be ashamed of.

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Our Southern Friend

Pioneer A.A., minister's son, and southern farmer, he asked, "Who am I to say there is no God?"

Then comes a thought that is like A Voice. "Who are you to say there is no God?" It rings in my head, I can't get rid of it. I get out of bed and go to the man's room. He is reading. "I must ask you a question," I say to the man. "How does prayer fit into this thing?" "Well," he answers, "you've probably tried praying like I have. When you've been in a jam you've said, 'God, please do this or that' and if it turned out your way that was the last of it and if it didn't you've said 'There isn't any God' or 'He doesn't do anything for me'. Is that right?" "Yes" I reply. "That isn't the way" he continued. "The thing I do is to say 'God here I am and here are all my troubles. I've made a mess of things and can't do anything about it. You take me, and all my troubles, and do anything you want with me.' Does that answer your question?" "Yes, it does" I answer. I return to bed. It doesn't make sense. Suddenly I feel a wave of utter hopelessness sweep over me. I am in the bottom of hell. And there a tremendous hope is born. It might be true. I tumble out of bed onto my knees. I know not what I say. But slowly a great peace comes to me. I feel lifted up. I believe in God. I crawl back into bed and sleep like a child.

p. 215

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Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step Ten - "Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."

As we work the first nine Steps, we prepare ourselves for the adventure of a new life. But when we approach Step Ten we commence to put our A.A. way of living to practical use, day by day, in fair weather or foul. Then comes the acid test: can we stay sober, keep in emotional balance, and live to good purpose under all conditions?

p. 88

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"No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens." --Abraham Lincoln

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

The right time for the journey is when you begin it. Why not today? God, motivate me to live a fuller, richer life. --An excerpt from Melody Beattie - (More Language of Letting Go)

"There is a very little difference between people; it is called attitude; and it makes a really big difference. The big difference is whether it's positive or negative." --W. Clement Stone

"Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind." --Eric Hoffer

Look past the body, past the personality, past the behavior, into the window of one another's souls. There we make a connection. The God in me recognizes and honors the God in you. --Mary Manin Morrissey

God, grant me the serenity to not try to force outcomes and solutions too soon. --Melody Beattie

Wish not so much to live long, as to live well. -- Benjamin Franklin

It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows. --Epictetus

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Father Leo's Daily Meditation

SOLITUDE

"Everyone should try to find a spot to be alone." --Queen Juliana (Netherlands)

Greta Garbo was reported to have said, "I want to be alone." Life brings its pressures, but we all need to find a place where we can be "alone".

Alone - not to "think" or "do" - simply to be. We need time to simply rest in our lives. A time in the day which we can call our own, to have a visit with the most important person we have got in our lives -ourselves.

To rest in self is to experience "spiritual selfishness" - the joy of self-love.

And how much we look forward to setting aside a time just for heart and mind to center on the pathway to listening to God.

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And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will cometo himwho is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. Hehas scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. Psalm 112:4-9

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Daily Inspiration

It is laughter that helps us cope with the upsets and chaos of everyday living. Lord, lighten my spirit so that I will not take myself so seriously and be able to find more moments to laugh.

Take care of yourself so that you may give care to others. Lord, may I never totally ignore myself and my feelings for the sake of others and fit in time daily to refresh my spirit.