Today's Thought - March

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March 28

Forgiveness

Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge and dares forgive an injury.

~E.H. Chapin

Unless we can freely forgive others, we will never be able to forgive ourselves. The freedom to give ourselves a second (or third or fourth) chance to right a wrong or perform a helpful act opens the way to spiritual growth.

Unqualified forgiveness, both for others and for ourselves, keeps us from being overcome by guilt or shame over not being kind to ourselves and those around us. Forgiveness is a first step in making emotional progress; all succeeding steps become easier.

My sponsor told me to imagine climbing a beautiful hill and sitting in the sunlight, then to imagine my enemy climbing the same hill and sitting with me. Then I was to leave my enemy in the sunlight while I walked down the hill.

This, my sponsor said, was forgiveness.

Today's reading is from the book Easy Does It: A Book of Daily Twelve Step Meditations*

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March 29

When one's own problems are unsolvable...it is life?saving to listen to other people's problems.

~Suzanne Mossie

There are times when we get so engulfed in a problem - whether it's a conflict in a relationship or a job issue that demands all our time - that we lose perspective and miss an obvious solution that may be clear to someone else.

Fortunately, our fellowship encourages us to share our innermost concerns with each other, and we usually find caring listeners when we do. This exchange rewards us with the clarity we need. We discover a power greater than ourselves, a wisdom in the group that transcends that of any individual.

It's not by chance that we've been invited into one another's lives - as both teachers and students. What we share in any one moment may help others better understand their situation, and their response can enlighten us. Our tasks are to be honest, receptive, and willing to share and listen.

I will seek help for a troubling situation today by turning to others.

Today's reading is from the book In God's Care: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery*

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March 30

A woman who maintains fitness in her life has earned a PhD in self-esteem.

~Anne Marie Nelson

The word fitness covers a lot of ground. It's related not only to how we take care of our bodies, but also to how we eat, think, behave, plan for the day ahead, and pray.

Every avenue of our lives exists on a spectrum of fitness. Our Twelve Step program can serve as our manual for fitness. For some of us, the decision to exercise and eat right is an easy one. Decisions about how we think and how we behave, however, may be more difficult and require more discipline.

Fortunately, the Fourth and Tenth Steps keep us in touch with our individual characteristics. We can make conscious choices about which ones to exercise in every situation.

My fitness today is within my grasp.
The Steps will anchor me.

Today's reading is from the book A Woman's Spirit: More meditations for Women*

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March 31
To age with dignity and with courage cuts close to what it is to be a man.

~Roger Kahn

The healing journey requires courage. We are walking a path that is somewhat off the mainstream. We seek to become better men, better friends, better intimate partners, and better fathers. We seek to grow out of our self-centeredness to be more generous and caring.

It takes courage to give up the pursuit of greater and greater control, to give up the empty pursuit of happiness through more material possessions. Courage comes forward when we refuse to use our old escapes and accept our problems so we can deal with them.

Nothing is so bad that it can't be talked about. When we choose a trustworthy friend to tell our truth to, we see our situation from new angles. We can then have a dialogue with our friend and within ourselves that leads to a new outlook and new solutions. This kind of connection with other men creates new integrity within ourselves and gives us genuine dignity.

Today, I will continue to have courage on my journey of healing.

Today's reading is from the book Stepping Stones: More Daily Meditations for Men*