WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN (0)
Posted 10 December, 2007 in Daily Reflections
When we developed still more, we discovered the best possible source of emotional stability to be God Himself. We found that dependence upon His perfect justice, forgiveness, and love was healthy, and that it would work where nothing else would. If we really depended upon God, we couldn’t very well play God to our fellows not would we feel the urge wholly to rely on human protection and care.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, P 116
It has been my experience that, when all human resources appear to have failed, there is always One who will never desert me. Moreover, He is always there to share my joy, to steer me down the right path, and to confide in when no one else will do. While my well-being and happiness can be added to, or dimished, by human efforts, only God can provide the loving nourishment upon which I depend for my daily spiritual health.
“ACTIVE GUARDIANS’ (0)
Posted 10 December, 2007 in Daily Reflections
To us, however, it represents far more than a sound public relations policy. It is more than a denial of self-seeking. This Tradition is a constant and practical reminder that personal ambition has no place in A.A. In it, each member becomes an active guardian of our Fellowship.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS P. 183
The basic concept of humility is expressed in the Eleventh Tradition: it allows me to participate completely in the program in such a simple, yet profound, manner; it fulfills my need to be an integral part of a significant whole. Humility brings me closer to the actual spirit of togetherness and oneness, without which I could not stay sober. In remembering that every member is an example of sobriety, each one living the Eleventh Tradition, I am able to experience freedom because each one of us is anonymous.
ONLY TWO SINS (0)
Posted 10 December, 2007 in Daily Reflections
. . . there are only two sins; the first is to interfere with the growth of another human being, and the second is to interfere with one’s own growth.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p.542
Happiness is such an elusive state. How often do my “prayers” for others involve “hidden” prayers for my own agenda? How often is my search for happines a boulder in the path of growth for another, or even myself? Seeking growth through humility and acceptance brings things that appear to be anything but good, wholesome and vital. Yet in looking back, I can see that pain, struggles and setbacks have all contributed eventually to serenity through growth in the program.
I ask my Higher Power to help me not cause another’s lack of growth today - or my own. (more…)
MAINTENANCE AND GROWTH (0)
Posted 10 December, 2007 in As Bill See's It
It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worthwhile. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the mainenance and growth of a spiritual expereience, this business of harboring resentment is infinitely grave. For then we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.
If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the sudden rage were not for us. Anger is the dubious luxury of normal men, but for us alcoholics it is poison.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS P. 66
CAN WE CHOOSE? (0)
Posted 10 December, 2007 in As Bill See's It
We must never be blinded by the futile philosophy that we are just the hapless victims of our inheritance, of our life experience, and of our surroundings - that these are the sole forces that make our decisions for us. This is not the road to freedom. We have to believe that we can really choose.
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“As active alcoholics, we lost our ability to choose whether we would drink. We were the victims of a compulsion which seemed to seemed that we must go on with our own destruction.
”Yet we finally did make choices that brought about our recovery. We came to believe that alone we were powerless over alcohol. This was surely a choice, and a most difficult one. We came to believe that a Higher Power could restore us to sanity when we became willing to practice AA’s Twelve Steps.
“in short, we chose to ‘become willing’, and no better choice did we ever make”.
1. GRAPEVINE, NOVEMBER 1960
2. LETTER, 1966
PAIN AND PROGRESS (0)
Posted 10 December, 2007 in As Bill See's It
“Years ago I used to commiserate with all people who suffered. No I commiserate only with those who suffer in ignorance, who do not understand the purpose and ultimate utility of pain”
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Someone once remarked that pain is the touchstone of spiritual progress. How heartily we A.A.’s can agree with him for we know that the pains of alcoholism had to come before sobriety, and emotional turmoil before serenity.
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”Believe more deeply. Hold your face up to the Light, even though for the moment you do not see.”
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1. LETTER, 1950
2. TWELVE AND TWELVE PP 93-94
3. LETTER, 1950