Even More Recovery Readings and Meditations - July

[bluidkiti]

July 26

Step by Step

" ...(T)his program is not for sissies for ...it takes a man to make the grade. It is not too difficult nor easy to grasp. I have had many more reasons to drink since I have been in AA than I had in all the years of my drinking. I've had more problems but, thank God, I have had the teachings of AA with which to face them. ...When I hear the more rugged stories of alcoholics who became sicker than I did with this affliction, I humbly thank God for showing me 'the handwriting on the wall.'" - Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Edition, 1976, Part II ("They Stopped in Time"), Ch 8 ("Rum, Radio and Television"), p 367.

Today, a program that is not without work, that working it takes more courage than to keep drinking and that being sober will not shield us from the problems that non-alcoholics face but will arm us with stronger combat ammunition. I will heed the word of the experienced and not set myself up for a slip or relapse if the promises of the program don't come quickly enough to me - because I haven't worked for those promises. Nor will I dismiss the program that it doesn't work when I face the problems that everyone else has. Problems will continue to arise; how I handle them will depend on how I work the program. For as courageous and bold my decision to stop drinking, I need even more to graduate from being dry to sober. Today, I'm ready to give it my all, to "go to any lengths." And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M.

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~ EASY DOES IT ~ (A Book of Daily 12 Step Meditations) ~

ATTRACTIVE

The 12 Step way of life is attractive, not necessarily irresistible.

~ Anonymous ~

Life looks different through rose-colored glasses. Everything has beautiful shades and hues. We see every person as prettier or handsomer than they actually are. When we look in the mirror, the mole on our nose is smaller. The padded hips and double chin disappear. By some strange force, we look three inches taller.

We should all be permitted the use of these glasses once in a while. The newcomer, especially, needs the chance to pick up their spirits. Early recovery can feel irresistible, like those rose-colored glasses. The truth of the matter is we have learned the 12 Step way of life is attractive, but not irresistible.

I have come to appreciate how attractive my new life is. I no longer need to use rose-colored glasses all the time to view my world.

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~ WISDOM TO KNOW ~ (More Daily Meditations For Men) ~

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

~ Kahlil Gibran ~

We seldom choose the pain that comes into our lives. Perhaps it comes as a consequence of other choices that we made. Perhaps it comes as a result of events that are no fault of our own. Either way, our suffering is something we have no choice about. But we do have choices about how we will respond to it. As men following a spiritual path, we have come to understand that whatever we have to deal with contains important lessons.

If a man falls and breaks his arm, no healing will come from blaming the rock he stumbled over or blaming the guy who put the rock in his way. He still must care for his broken bone, and the healing comes from within his own body.

We ask ourselves, what am I to learn from this event? How can I take this experience and grow into a better, stronger man? When we turn a painful thing into a way to grow, we turn a negative to our advantage and our lives take a turn for the better.

Today the pain I feel will point me in a direction for my development.

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~ A WOMAN’S SPIRIT ~ (More Meditations For Women) ~

We are social beings not from habit, and not for convenience or expediency, but of necessity.

~ Mary McDermott Shideler ~

What does it really mean that we need each other? Being strong and independent were qualities we strove for. Most of us were encouraged to learn how to stand on our own two feet. Doesn’t that advice fly in the face of needing others?

The truth is, we have lessons to learn and contributions to make. Our relationships with others provide us with those opportunities. None of us are here without reason. Our lives are blended for a much greater purpose than what our narrow, individual focus sees. The group, the community that claims our membership, has been assembled by God. Let’s know that we need to be here, now.

I need the women and men who surround me now. I may not understand the reason, but I don’t need to. Trust is all that’s necessary.

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~ TODAY I WILL DO ONE THING ~ (Daily Readings for Awareness and Hope) ~

I am becoming a spiritual person

"Spiritual" used to mean church or religion to me—both of which I rejected. In a way I was my own higher power and I tried to handle all my problems on my own. As a result, I often felt alone, insecure, and afraid.

Now that I am in dual recovery I am learning little by little the larger meaning of the word spiritual. Most important, it means I am not alone, I have a higher power, one who cares about me. When I let my higher power help, I feel more confidence and courage. I worry less about what will happen tomorrow and try to be grateful for today.

When I wake up in the morning, I will practice welcoming the day.

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~ BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT ~ (Inspiration and Support for Recovery) ~

I have seen much to hate, here — much to forgive.

~ Alice Duer Miller ~

Some of us grew up in very sick families, and it’s hard to put the past behind us. Coming to terms with who we are and learning to forgive are complicated by old pain, a childhood filled with anger and resentment and sadness. But we’re not children any more. Our minds, spirits and bodies are adult. We have adult tools to use in resolving old pain.

In recovery we can learn to recognize our anger and begin to work at forgiveness. We might be resentful not only of our families but of past friends, too. We seemed to spend a lot of time alone, isolating ourselves from pain. Oh, how sad we were, and probably still are, unless we have taken a courageous step forward and started to work on these issues.

Our past can never change, but how we view the past can. All this takes a lot of work to accept and deal with in a healthy way. It takes thought, tears, honesty, admitting our own mistakes, and lots of spiritual support from our group. A strong belief in a Higher Power helps reassure us that life can be good to us if we are good to ourselves. When we are finally ready to release ourselves from the past, when we are ready to forgive our family and be happy for our friends’ happiness, we have truly broken free. It is a long and emotional journey, but one that will free us from old pain and let us rejoice in the here and now.

Today help me learn from the past, not live in it.

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~ MORNING LIGHT ~ (Meditations to Begin Your Day) ~

I cannot meet with a single day when I am not hurried along, driven to my wits’-end by urgent work, business to attend to, or some service to render.

~ George Sand ~

If asked to describe each of your days as if they were pictures in a coloring book, what colors would you use? Perhaps gray would suit days filled with sadness or despair. Maybe fire-engine red would signify the urgency and stress you sometimes feel. And a brilliant blue would be used when your thinking is clear and your future seems bright.

But while your days may be filled with a multitude of colors, there is one color that is often neglected: white. White is a perfect complement to any color you choose. White space provides breathing room and gives you the opportunity to see and appreciate all of the colors. When you add white to each of the days in your coloring book, you are creating a space in which you can free your mind and welcome peace and serenity. And you are allowing space with no clutter, no stress, and no confusion.

Think of those days that are filled to the brim with appointments, activities, meetings, deadlines, and end-less rushing. Add some white space to those days to give yourself the opportunity to experience serenity.

Today I will use white as part of the palette of my day.

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~ NIGHT LIGHT ~ (A Book Of Nighttime Meditations) ~

The seed of God is in us. Pear seeds grow into pear trees, nut seeds into nut trees, and God seeds into God.

~ Meister Eckhart ~

Often we may feel critical and judgmental about our maturity or personality. When we read we have God seeds within us, we may find that difficult to believe. How can we have the God seeds within us that other people have? It may seem everyone else has more good within them than we have.

Just as we admire certain qualities about other people, so can we admire qualities about ourselves. We need to remember a good critic looks at both the good and the bad. A good critic doesn't pass judgment, but merely assembles the facts to allow others to make judgments.

The seeds that grow pear trees don’t yield perfect trees. Some of the fruit is ripe and juicy; some is hard and dry; some fruit never matures. Yet the pear tree will be a good tree if it's tended with care. So it is with us. Every part of us may not be perfect, but with care we can make the best person possible from the God seed that began us.

I can be a healthy, bountiful person if I give myself plenty of care. Tonight I won't give up on me.

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~ DAY BY DAY ~ (Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts) ~

Avoiding pity

Coming into the fellowship, newcomers may see older members as unsympathetic, unsupportive, or even rude. Old-timers don’t mince words with newcomers who aren’t ready to stop using: “Go back out and try some more if you haven’t had enough.” Old- timers don’t pity newcomers. While they understand the fear and pain, they also know that pity will kill because pity leads to self- pity and eventually back to using.

So if old-timers seem harsh it’s out of loving, knowing hearts—it’s out of tough love.

Have I stopped pitying myself (and others)?

Higher Power, help me avoid self-pity so I can do what I need to do to recover.

Today I will avoid self-pity by

God help me to stay clean and sober today!

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~ IF YOU WANT WHAT WE HAVE ~ (Sponsorship Meditations) ~

To love what you do and feel that it matters— how could anything be more fun?

~ KATHARINE GRAHAM ~

Newcomer

I’ve been asked to fill in for someone who usually makes coffee at my regular meeting. I said, “Yes, sure,” without giving it a second thought. Now I’ve got to do it, and I’m feeling resentful. I’m ashamed to admit to such a petty resentment.

Sponsor

There have been many occasions when I’ve said yes to a request without paying attention to a hesitation I felt within myself. Sometimes my response comes out of the desire to be good; it’s one of the forms of people-pleasing. Later, though I may keep the commitment I’ve made, I don’t enjoy it; I feel somehow put upon.

In recovery, yes and no are both options, but it may take you some time to know what your heart is telling you. You may be confused by “I should” or “I have to” or by someone else’s needs. If you feel conflicted and are not sure what you really want to do, whether it’s a question of making coffee or attending a family wedding, you can give yourself some time to figure it out. You’re not required to discuss your conflict with the person who’s made the request, or to give an elaborate explanation for your decision once you make it.

Once we understand that we’re making a free choice, we may even get pleasure out of doing something we previously resisted. If we give ourselves permission to say no, then saying yes can be a joy instead of a duty.

Today, I honor my need to make genuine choices; I allow myself time to decide.

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~ THE EYE OPENER ~

Patience is a virtue that few alcoholics have. We want to do everything yesterday. Even after we sober up, we seldom acquire any substantial amount of this virtue. We feel a real need to make up for all our lost years; we fret and fume over delays; we feel the world should synchronize their watches with ours.

Like Phillips Brooks, we are in a hurry, but God isn't.

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~ The 12 STEP PRAYER BOOK ~ (A Collection of Favorite 12 Step Prayers and Inspirational Readings) ~

All Actions Are Born Thought

I now journey in the realm of the Spirit;
Your wisdom has helped me be willing to change,
Your love has helped me believe I can change,
Your grace has helped me make the right decisions,
Your power has helped me take the right actions
Today, this I believe,
All negative actions are born in negative thought.
All positive actions are born in positive thought.
Help me always to know this is true.

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~ AROUND THE YEAR WITH EMMET FOX ~ (A Book of Daily Readings) ~

THE MENTAL EQUIVALENT

There is one thing that means more to us than all the other things in the world, and that is our search for God and the understanding of His nature. Our aim is to learn the practice of the presence of God. We practice the presence of God by seeing Him everywhere, in all things and in all people.

Some years ago I coined the phrase "mental equivalent." For anything that you want in your life—a healthy body, a satisfactory vocation, friends, opportunities, and above all the understanding of God—you must furnish a mental equivalent. Supply yourself with a mental equivalent, and the thing must come to you.

This expression "mental equivalent" is borrowed from physics and chemistry. We speak of the mechanical equivalent of heat, and engineers constantly have to work out the equivalent of one kind of energy in another kind of energy. They have to find out how much coal will be needed to produce so much electricity, and so on. In like manner there is a mental equivalent of every object or occurrence on the physical plane.

The secret of successful living is to build up the mental equivalent that you want; and to get rid of, to expunge, the mental equivalent that you do not want.

I will mediate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways (Psalm 119:15).

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~ A DEEP BREATH OF LIFE ~ (365 Daily Inspirations for Heart-Centered Living) ~

Pygmy Thoughts

Be not content with littleness.

~ A Course in Miracles ~

While visiting a farm, I noticed some tiny horses not much larger than big dogs. "Are those Shetland ponies?" I asked Sara, the owner.

"No," Sara answered, "they are pygmy horses, bred for their small size. The breeders try to make each generation smaller than the last."

Breeding for smallness is symbolic of the way we paint ourselves into a corner by thinking diminutive thoughts. When we believe in lack and act as if it were so, we manufacture a world smaller than the one we were born into, and generate a new wave of little thoughts that leads to even more limitation in our experience. Eventually, we live in a tiny world, miniature in comparison to the world we were intended to enjoy.

My teacher Hilda described the spectacular flowers she saw in her mystical visions. "I've seen some huge flowers," she reported. "They were gigantic in comparison to the ones in our physical world. I was told that the great flowers are actually the ones offered at creation, but stingy thinking has shrunken the world of beauty to a mere fraction of what is possible."

Jesus taught, "To him that hath, more shall be given, and to him that hath not, it shall be taken away." When we think magnanimously, we expand our universe, and when we think small, we shrink it. Let us open our minds to the highest possibilities, that we may enjoy all that is available.

I pray to think with You, that I may live in the largest universe possible.

My magnificent thoughts create a magnificent world.