today's readings

August 10

Daily Reflections

REDOUBLING OUR EFFORTS

To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to redouble his efforts to see how many people he had hurt, and in what ways. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS , p. 77

As I continue to grow in sobriety, I become more aware of myself as a person of worth. In the process, I am better able to see others as persons, and with this comes the realization that these were people whom I had hurt in my drinking days. I didn't just lie, I lied about Tom. I didn't just cheat, I cheated Joe. What were seemingly impersonal acts, were really personal affronts, because it was people - people of worth - whom I had harmed. I need to do something about the people I have hurt so that I may enjoy a peaceful sobriety.

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Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

"The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We who have found this solution to our alcoholic problem, we who are properly armed with the facts about ourselves, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic. We who are making the approach to new prospects have had the same difficulty they have had. We obviously know what we are talking about. Our whole deportment shouts at new prospects that we are people with a real answer." Am I a person with the real answer to the alcoholic problems of others?

Meditation For The Day

For straying from the right way there is no cure except to keep so close to the thought of God that nothing, no other interest, can seriously come between you and God. Sure of that, you can stay on God's side. Knowing the way, nothing can prevent your staying in the way and nothing can cause you to seriously stray from it. God has promised peace if you stay close to Him, but not leisure. You still have to carry on in the world. He has promised heart-rest and comfort, but not pleasure in the ordinary sense. Peace and comfort bring real inward happiness.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may keep my feet on the way. I pray that I may stay on God's side.

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As Bill Sees It

Who Is To Blame?, p. 222

At Step Four we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking, and frightened? Though a given situation had not been entirely our fault, we often tried to cast the whole blame on the other person involved.

We finally saw that the inventory should be ours, not the other man's. So we admitted our wrongs honestly and became willing to set these matters straight.

Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 67

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Walk In Dry Places

Am I getting too busy? Time Management. It's always risky when a recovering person gets too busy for meetings. It's also dangerous when business and personal concerns crowd out interest in the program. We should never deceive ourselves by thinking that we're somehow safe just because our time is filled with useful and interesting work. Many of us have a tendency to become addicted to "busy-ness". Though less destructive than drinking, this serves as an escape, just as alcohol did. The danger is that when the work no longer satisfies us, we'll find our lives becoming empty again. We could then be very vulnerable to taking a drink. We should never be too busy for the wonderful, constructive work of the program. Far from taking time away from our other actives, work in the program will enhance everything we do. I'll try to balance my activities today, making sure that I have time for the program.

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Walk In Dry Places

Can't or Won't? Willingness "I can't do it," a person declared as the meeting opened. "I simply can't stop drinking." That launched the evening's discussion as thirteen people offered their ideas and suggestions. One idea that emerged was that CAN'T was really WON'T. The individual was still holding back on re3commeded actions, such as attending more meetings and making excuses for not doing so. It became clear that the quest for sobriety was still only half-hearted. In dealing with a powerful addiction, we learned long ago that half-hearted approaches don't work. That's why willingness is called the KEY to recovery. If the "Won't" factor isn't eliminated, our chances for recovery are very poor. Some people recognize their "won't" attitude but still desire sobriety. For them, the answer is to continue attending meetings and doing the other things that bring sobriety. This can result in a breakthrough when they least expect it. I'll remember today that can't is often won't. If I'm not taking the right steps to help myself, I'll check myself for willingness.

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Keep It Simple

There are time we must grab God's and walk forward.--- Anonymous Sometimes we struggle with being part of the problem, instead of being part of the solution. Inside we know this, but somehow we can't Let Go and Let God. To let go takes faith that the outcome will be okay. When we have faith, we know our Higher Power believes in us and will guide us. When we have faith, we believe in ourselves. When we let go, we let go of our need to always be right. Letting go first takes place on the inside. Letting go allows us to change how we view what's happening. Often, all we really need is this change of attitude. This is the beauty of faith: it allows us to see the same thing in different Ways. Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, permit me to let go. Let me see that believing in You must also mean believing in myself. Action for the Day: I will review my life since entering the Twelve Step program. I will work at seeing what good partners my Higher Power and I make.

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

The Man Who Mastered Fear

He spent eighteen years in running away, and then found he didn't have to run. So he started A.A. in Detroit.

For eighteen years, from the time I was twenty-one, fear governed my life. By the time I was thirty, I had found that alcohol dissolved fear---for a little while. In the end I had tow problems instead of one: fear and alcohol.

p. 246

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Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step Twelve - "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."

As we made spiritual progress, we saw through these fallacies. It became clear that if we ever were to feel emotionally secure among grown-up people, we would have to put our lives on a give-and-take basis; we would have to develop the sense of being in partnership or brotherhood with all those around us. We saw that we would need to give constantly of ourselves without demands for repayment. When we persistently did this we gradually found that people were attracted to us as never before. And even if they failed us, we could be understanding and not too seriously affected.

pp. 115-116

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Joy is the echo of God’s life in us. --Abbot Columba Mormion

"It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day to day basis." --Margaret Bonnano

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ... Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. --Carl Jung

"We generally change ourselves for one of two reasons: inspiration or desperation." --Jim Rohn

"The time is always right to do what is right." --Martin Luther King, Jr.

"What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly." --Lao Tsu

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Father Leo's Daily Meditation

FAITH

"Faith must trample underfoot all reason, sense and understanding." -- Martin Luther

An obstacle to my understanding the spiritual life was my intellectualization; my head was forever getting in the way of my heart. It was much easier to me to think rather than to feel; my faith was smothered by logic. My manipulating and controlling mind was stopping me experiencing the adventure of faith.

The poet in me grew as I began to trust others. God became alive in my confusion. The answer was in not having to have the answers. Today spirituality involves all the varied confusions and paradoxes of life that I have discovered in me and in others --- and it's okay.

Today the love I give and receive is beyond my wildest dreams, and I smile at the joy of my confusion.

May my head unite with my heart in the daily maze of life.

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"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!" 1 Chronicles 16:11

"For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say "Amen" when we give glory to God through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:20

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Daily Inspiration

Whatever the problem, stressing over it will not solve it. Lord, I turn to You for solutions because I believe that You care for all of my needs. Bless me with the ability to remain level headed and calm as we work our way through my day.

Never forget that home is Heaven and life on earth is only temporary. Lord, may I live with deep awareness of my spiritual nature and live a life of truth.