daily recovery readings Aug-2 2014

[yukonm]

August 2

Daily Reflections

WE BECOME WILLING. . . . .

At the moment we are trying to put our lives in order. But this is not
an end in itself.
ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS , p. 77

How easily I can become misdirected in approaching the Eighth Step! I
wish to be free, somehow transformed by my Sixth and Seventh Step
work. Now, more than ever, I am vulnerable to my own self-interest
and hidden agenda. I am careful to remember that self-satisfaction,
which sometimes comes through the spoken forgiveness of those
I have harmed, is not my true objective. I become willing to make
amends, knowing that through this process I am mended and made
fit to move forward, to know and desire God's will for me.

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Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

Alcoholics Anonymous has no quarrel with medicine, psychiatry, or
religion. We have great respect for the methods of each. And we are
glad for any success they may have had with alcoholics. We are
desirous always of cooperating with them in every way. The more
doctors, the more psychiatrists, the more clergy and rabbis we can get
to work with us, the better we like it. We have many who take a real
interest in our program and we would like many more. Am I ready to
cooperate with those who take a sincere interest in A.A.?

Meditation For The Day

God is always ready to pour His blessings into our hearts in generous
measure. But like the seed-sowing, the ground must be prepared
before the seed is dropped in. It is our task to prepare the soil. It is
God's to drop the seed. This preparation of the soil means many days
of right living, choosing the right and avoiding the wrong. As you go
along, each day you are better prepared for God's planting, until
you reach the time of harvest. Then you share the harvest with
God -- the harvest of a useful and more abundant life.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that my way of living may be properly prepared day by day. I
pray that I may strive to make myself ready for the harvest which
God has planted in my heart.

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As Bill Sees It

Only Try, p. 214

In my teens, I had to be an athlete because I was not an athlete. I
had to be a musician because I could not carry a tune. I had to be
the president of my class in boarding school. I had to first in
everything because in my perverse heart I felt myself the least of
God's creatures. I could not accept my deep sense of inferiority,
and so I strove to become captain of the baseball team, and I did
learn to play the fiddle. Lead I must--or else. This was the "all or
nothing" kind of demand that later did me in.

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"I'm glad you are going to try that new job. But make sure that
you are only going to 'try.' If you approach the project in the
attitude that "I must succeed, I must not fail, I cannot fail,' then you
practically guarantee the flop which in turn will guarantee a
drinking relapse. But if you look at the venture as a constructive
experiment only, then all should go well."

1. A.A. Comes Of Age, p. 53
2. Letter, 1958

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Walk In Dry Places

"That's the way I am"
Getter Better
Bad behavior is sometimes justified as a form of self-expression: "That's the way I am." Others are supposed to tolerate this or risk losing a friendship.
In our program, we should modify any behavior that offends or hurts others. If we have been too brutally frank in our comments, for example, maybe we're at fault. What we call honesty is really a form of cruelty.
If we persist in "being the way we are" even when it doesn't work, we have nobody to blame but ourselves when things go wrong. Other people are entitled to be treated fairly and decently. Just as we want to be. Perhaps "the way I am" is something that can be changed for the good of all, ourselves included.
If I have habits and traits that cause friction with others, I'll take a new look at them. It's possible that this is something I can and should change.

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Keep It Simple

. . . and because willing to make amends to them all.---Second half of Step
Eight.
We have made our list of persons we've harmed. Now we look at how willing
we are to make amends. We might find that we aren't ready and willing to
make amends to everyone. Maybe they have wronged us more than we have
wronged them. Maybe we're afraid they'll get angry with us. Maybe we're
afraid they'll put us in jail.
We get ready to make amends by listening and talking to others in our
group---and to our sponsor. We pray for help to be willing to make amends.
Becoming willing does not just happen.
We have to work at it. We need to be willing to let go of the past.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me become willing. Help me see my part. I know "my part"
is the only part I can change.
Action for the Day: I will take time to go over my list. To whom am I not ready to make amends?
I will take time to read the Serenity Prayer.

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Each Day a New Beginning

Though we be sick and tired and faint and worn--Lo, all things can be borne! --Elizabeth Chase Akers
What bothered us most a year ago? A month ago? Even a week ago? It's probably that whatever it was, we were obsessed with it, certain that our futures were ruined, that there was no reasonable solution. It's also probable that we feared we simply couldn't survive the complexity of the situation. But we did. And we always will be able to survive any and all difficulties. We are never, absolutely never, given more than we can handle. In fact, we are given exactly what we need, at any given time.
We have many lessons to learn. Fortunately, we have the structure of the Twelve Steps to guide us through the lessons. We need mainly to remember what we are powerless over, that there is a power greater than ourselves, and that life will become simple; we'll need no extra homework when we've turned it over to the care of God.
Whatever my problem today, I will let God have it. A solution is in the making. I'll see it just as quickly as I can let go of the problem.

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Chapter 11 - A Vision For You

Under only slightly different conditions, the same thing is taking place in many eastern cities. In one of these there is a well-know hospital for the treatment of alcoholic and drug addiction. Six years ago one of our number was a patient there. Many of us have felt, for the first time, the Presence and Power of God within its walls. We are greatly indebted to the doctor in attendance there, for he, although it might prejudice his own work, has told us of his belief in ours.

pp. 161-162

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Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step Seven - "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings."

Indeed, the attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle of each of A.A.'s Twelve Steps. For without some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all. Nearly all A.A.'s have found, too, that unless they develop much more of this precious quality than may be required just for sobriety, they still haven't much chance of becoming truly happy. Without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose, or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet any emergency.

p. 70

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Today...well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and
every tomorrow a vision of hope.
--unknown

"Treat People The Way You Want To Be Treated."
"To Thine Own Self Be True!"
"This Is The Real Thing IT'S No Dress Rehearsal."

"Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves."
--Thomas Carlyle

"In any situation, no matter how painful, we have two choices: Hold
onto anger, resentment, hurt, and fear, or open our hearts and look at
the other person with understanding, empathy, & forgiveness."
--Melody Beattie

"Look back and be grateful, look ahead and be hopeful, look around
and be helpful."
--unknown

The first step identifies the problem.
The second step identifies the solution.
The third step identifies the action.
--unknown

When I came into AA all I could say was, "I know" and "yeah but..."
Then I got a sponsor who said, "You don't know, and there are no
buts!"
--unknown

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Father Leo's Daily Meditation

LAUGHTER

"Nobody ever died of laughter."
-- Max Beerbohm

I knew that I was growing in self-esteem and confidence when I was
able to laugh, express that "belly" laugh that proclaims that I am glad
to be alive.

So many religious people are too serious. They seem to think that God
disapproves of laughter and yet it seems the most natural emotion in
the world. Sobriety is a statement that the pain is being overcome and
the hope that is experienced will necessarily release laughter.

Laughter also stops us from treating ourselves and the world too
seriously. I remember a professor telling me, "God created the world
for fun. Find the key to life and enjoy it." Spirituality is that key.

Sometimes, Lord, in the silence of my car, my joy is so great and my
gratitude so overwhelming, I can do nothing but laugh. Thank You for
the gift of laughter.

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"For you are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness."
II Samuel 22;29

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give
thanks to him and praise his name.
Psalm 100:4

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Daily Inspiration

Whether the friendships we have last a lifetime or only a brief period, they bring joy and make life a little better. Lord, may I be genuine and honest with the people in my life so that each relationship is a blessing.

As we help those in need or comfort those in trouble, God's great love and divine glory is revealed to the world. Lord, I am Your servant. May others know more of You through me.