Thoughts For The Day~*~Carry the Message^*^*^*^*^ June 5, 2010

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Carry the Message

"We sit at AA meetings and listen,
not only to receive something,
but to give reassurance and support
which our presence can bring.
If our turn comes to speak at a meeting,
we again try to carry AA's message.
Whether our audience is one or many,
it is still Twelfth Step work."

Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 110

Thought to Consider....

That light at the end of the tunnel may be you.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
T R U S T =Teaching Recovery Using Steps and Traditions

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Development

From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":

"As the [Big Book] chapters were slowly roughed out I read them to the New York group at its weekly meeting in our parlor at Clinton Street, and copies were sent to Dr. Bob for checking and criticisms in Akron, where we had nothing but the warmest support. But in the New York meeting the chapters got a real mauling. I redictated them and Ruth retyped them over and over. In spite of the heated arguments, the New York group's criticisms did help a lot, and to some extent the enthusiasm and confidence increased."

2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 159

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~**~*~*~*~*
ENTIRELY READY?

"This is the Step that separates the men from the boys.". . . the difference between "the boys and the men" is the difference between striving for a self determined objective and for the perfect objective which is of God. . . . It is suggested that we ought to become entirely willing to aim toward perfection. . . . The moment we say, "No, never!" our minds close against the grace of God. . . . This is the exact point at which we abandon limited objectives, and move toward God's will for us.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 63, 68, 69

Am I entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character?  Do I know at long last that I cannot save myself?  I have come to believe that I cannot.  If I am unable, if my best intentions go wrong, if my desires are selfishly motivated and if my knowledge and will are limited -- then I am ready to embrace God's will for my life.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Suffering Transmuted, p. 35

"A.A. is no success story in the ordinary sense of the word. It is a story
of suffering transmuted, under grace, into spiritual progress."

<< << << >> >> >>

For Dr. Bob, the insatiable craving for alcohol was evidently a physical
phenomenon which bedeviled several of his first years in A.A., a time when only days and nights of carrying the message to other alcoholics could cause him to forget about drinking. Although his craving was hard to withstand, it doubtless did account for some part of the intense incentive that went into forming Akron's Group Number One.
Bob's spiritual release did not come easily; it was to be painfully slow. It always entailed the hardest kind of work and the sharpest vigilance.

1. Letter, 1959
2. A.A. Comes Of Age, p. 69
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality
safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem
has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor
are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long
as we keep in fit spiritual condition."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, Page 85~

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

We alcoholics are fortunate to be living in a day and age when there is such a thing as Alcoholics Anonymous. Before A.A. came into being, there was very little hope for the alcoholic. A.A. is a great rebuilder of human wreckage. It takes men and women whose personality problem expresses itself in alcoholism and offers them a program that, if they are willing to accept it, allows them not only to get sober, but also to find a much better way of living. Have I found a better way of living?

Meditation for the Day

Very quiedy God speaks through your thoughts and feelings. Heed the Divine voice of your conscience. Listen for this and you will never be disappointed in i the results in your life. Listen for this small, still voice and your tired nerves will become rested. The Divine voice comes to you as strength as well as tenderness, as power as well as restfulness. Your moral strength derives its effectiveness from the power that comes when you listen patiendy for the still, small voice.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may listen for the still, small voice of God. I pray that I may obey the leading of my conscience.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

Thoughts For The Day~*~Instincts^*^*^*^*^ June 4, 2010

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Instincts
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"The idea keeps persisting that the instincts
are primarily bad and are the roadblocks
before which all spirituality falters.
I believe that the difference between good and evil
is not the difference between spiritual
and instinctual man;
it is the difference between proper and improper
use of the instinctual.
Recognition and right channeling of the instinctual
are the essence of achieving wholeness."
Bill W., Letter, 1954
1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 287
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Thought to Consider . . .

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G R A C E  =  Gently Releasing All Conscious Expectations

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Model

From "The Man Who Mastered Fear":

"Poor health and a complete lack of money necessitated my remaining with Dr. Bob and Anne for very close to a year. It would be impossible for me to pass over this year without mentioning my love for, and my indebtedness to, these two wonderful people who are no longer with us. They made me feel as if I were a part of their family, and so did their children. The example that they and Bill W., whose visits to Akron were fairly frequent, set for me of service to their fellow men imbued me with a great desire to emulate them."

2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 251-52

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
LETTING GO OF OUR OLD SELVES

Carefully reading the first five proposals we ask if we have omitted
anything, for we are building an arch through which we shall walk a free man at last. . . . Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable?

                                ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 75, 76

The Sixth Step is the last "preparation" Step.   Although I have already used prayer extensively, I have made no formal request of my Higher Power in the first Six Steps.   I have identified my problem, come to believe that there is a solution, made a decision to seek this solution, and have "cleaned house."  I now ask: Am I willing to live a life of sobriety, of change, to let go of my old self?   I must determine if I am truly ready to change.   I review what I have done and become willing for God to remove all my defects of character; for in the next Step, I will tell my Creator I am willing and will ask for help.   If I have been thorough in the preparation of my foundation and feel that I am willing to change, I am then ready to continue
with the next Step.   "If we still cling to something we will not let go, we
ask God to help us be willing." (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 76)

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Built by the One and the Many

We give thanks to our Heavenly Father, who through so many friends and through many means and channels, has allowed us to construct this wonderful edifice of the spirit in which we are now dwelling--this cathedral whose foundations already rest upon the corners of the earth.
On its great floor we have inscribed our Twelve Steps of recovery. On the
side walls, the buttresses of A.A. Traditions have been set in place to
contain us in unity for as long as God may will it so. Eager hearts and hands have lifted the spire of our cathedral into its place. That spire bears the name of service. May it ever point straight upward toward God.
<<<>>>
"Its is not only to the few that we owe the remarkable developments in our unity and in our ability to carry A.A.'s message everywhere. It is to the many; indeed, it is to the labors of all of us that owe these prime
blessings."

1. A.A. COMES OF AGE, P. 234
2. TALK, 1959 

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Let no alcoholic say he cannot recover unless he has his family
back. This just isn't so. In some cases the wife will never come
back for one reason or another. Remind the prospect that his
recovery is not dependent upon people. It is dependent upon his
relationship with God. We have seen men get well whose families have
not returned at all. We have seen others slip when the family came
back too soon."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 99~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Some things I like since becoming dry: feeling good in the morning; full use of my intelligence; joy in my work; the love and trust of my children; lack of remorse; the confidence of my friends; the prospect of a happy future; the appreciation of the beauties of nature; knowing what it is all about. I'm sure that I like these things, am I not?

Meditation for the Day

Molding your life means cutting and shaping your material into something good, something that can express the spiritual. All material things are the clay out of which we mold something spiritual. You must first recognize the selfishness in your desires and motives, actions and words, and then mold that selfishness until it is sublimated into a spiritual weapon for good. As the work of molding proceeds, you see more and more clearly what must be done to mold your life into something better.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may mold my life into something useful and good. I pray that I may not be discouraged by the slow progress that I make.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

Thoughts For The Day~*~Why Worry?^*^*^*^*^ June 3, 2010

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Why Worry?
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"There are many short phrases and expressions in AA
which make sound sense.
'First Things First':  solving our immediate problems
before we try to solve all the others . . .
'Easy Does it.'  Relax a little.
Try for inner contentment.  No one individual
can carry all the burdens of the world.
Everyone has problems.  Getting drunk won't solve them.
'Twenty-four hours a day.'
Today is the day.  Doing our best,
living each day to the fullest is the art of living.
Yesterday is gone, and we don't know whether
we will be here tomorrow.
If we do a good job of living today,
and if tomorrow comes for us,
then the chances are we will do a good job when it arrives -
so why worry about it?"
1976 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 382
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Thought to Ponder . . .

Every day is a gift.
That is why we call it the present.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S  I  T   =   Stay In Today

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Question

Step Six: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

"It is plain for everybody to see that each sober A.A. member has been granted a release from this very obstinate and potentially fatal obsession. So in a very complete and literal way, all A.A.'s have 'become entirely ready' to have God remove the mania for alcohol from their lives. And God has proceeded to do exactly that.

"Having been granted a perfect release from alcoholism, why then shouldn't we be able to achieve by the same means a perfect release from every other difficulty or defect? This is a riddle of our existence, the full answer to which may be only in the mind of God."

1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 64

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
ON A WING AND A PRAYER

. . . . we then look at Step Six. We have emphasized willingness
as being indispensable.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 76

Steps Four and Five were difficult, but worthwhile. Now I was
stuck on Step Six and, in despair, I picked up the Big Book and
read this passage. I was outside, praying for willingness, when
I raised my eyes and saw a huge bird rising in the sky. I
watched it suddenly give itself up to the powerful air currents
of the mountains. Swept, along, swooping and soaring, the bird
did things seemingly impossible for mortal birds to do. It was
an inspiring example of a fellow creature "letting go" to a power
greater than itself. I realized that the bird "took back his will"
and tried to fly with less trust, on its power alone, it would
spoil its apparent free flight. That insight granted me the
willingness to pray the Seventh Step prayer.
It's not easy to know God's will in each circumstance. I must
search out and be ready for the currents, and that's where prayer and meditation help! Because I am, of myself, nothing, I ask God to grant me the knowledge of His will and the power and courage to carry it out -- today.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Relapses--and the Group

An early fear was that of slips or relapses. At first nearly every alcoholic we approached began to slip, it indeed he sobered up at all. Others would stay dry six months or maybe a year and then take a skid. This was always a genuine catastrophe. We would all look at each other and say, "Who next?"
Today, through slips are a very serious difficulty, as a group we take them in stride. Fear has evaporated. Alcohol always threatens the individual, but we know that it cannot destroy the common welfare.
<<<>>>
"It does not seem to pay to argue with 'slippers' about the proper method of getting dry. After all, why should people who are drinking tell people who are dry how it should be done?
"Just kid the boys along--ask them if they are having fun. If they are too noisy or troublesome, amiably keep out of their way."

1. A.A. COMES OF AGE, P. 97
2. LETTER, 1942

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble?  Does this mean we are going to get drunk. Some people tell us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 70~


*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*

A.A. Thought for the Day

Some more things I do not miss since becoming dry: running all
over town to find a bar open to get that "pick-me-up"; meeting
my friends and trying to cover up that I feel awful; looking at
myself in a mirror and calling myself a damn fool; struggling
with myself to snap out of it for two or three days; wondering
what it is all about. I'm positive I don't miss these things, am
I not?

Meditation for the Day

Love is the power that transforms your life. Try to love your
family and your friends and then try to love everybody that you
possibly can, even the "sinners and publicans" everybody. Love
for God is an even greater thing. it is the result of gratitude
to God and it is the acknowledgment of the blessing that God has sent you.
Love for God acknowledges His gifts and leaves the way open for God
to shower yet more blessings on your thankful heart.
Say "Thank you, God," until it becomes a habit.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may try to love God and all people. I pray that
I may continually thank God for all His blessings.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

Thoughts For The Day~*~Happiness^*^*^*^*^ June 2, 2010

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Happiness
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"I feel myself a useful member of the human race at last.
I have something to contribute to humanity,
since I am peculiarly qualified, as a fellow-sufferer,
to give aid and comfort to those who have
stumbled and fallen over this business
of meeting life.
I get my greatest thrill of accomplishment
from the knowledge that I have played a part
in the new happiness achieved
by countless others like myself."
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 229
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Thought to Consider . . .

The joy is in the journey, so enjoy the ride.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
B E S T  =  Been Enjoying Sobriety Today?

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Fairness

From "We Agnostics":

"We used to amuse ourselves by cynically dissecting spiritual beliefs and practices when we might have observed that many spiritually-minded persons of all races, colors, and creeds were demonstrating a degree of stability, happiness and usefulness which we should have sought ourselves.

"Instead, we looked at the human defects of these people, and sometimes used their shortcomings as a basis of wholesale condemnation. We talked of intolerance, while we were intolerant ourselves. We missed the reality and the beauty of the forest because we were diverted by the ugliness of some of its trees. We never gave the spiritual side of life a fair hearing."

2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 49-50

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
THE UPWARD PATH

Here are the steps we took . . .  

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59

These are the words that lead into the Twelve Steps.   In their direct
simplicity they sweep aside all psychological and philosophical
considerations about the rightness of the Steps.   They describe what I did: I took the Steps and sobriety was the result.   These words do not imply that I should walk the well-trodden path of those who went before, but rather that there is a way for me to become sober and that it is a way I shall have to find.   It is a new path, one that leads to infinite light at the top of the mountain.   The Steps advise me about the footholds that are safe and about chasms to avoid.   They provide me with the tools I need during the many parts of the solitary journey of my soul.   When I speak of this journey, I share my experience, strength and hope with others.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Without Anger

Suppose A.A. falls under sharp public attack or heavy ridicule, having little or no justification in fact. Our best defense in these situations would be no defense whatever--namely, complete silence at the public level. If in good humor we let unreasonable critics alone, they are apt to subside the more quickly. If their attacks persist and it is plain that they are misinformed, it may be wise to communicate with them privately in a temperate and informative way.
If, however, a given criticism of A.A. is partly or wholly justified, it may
be well to acknowledge this privately to the critics, together with our
thanks. But under no conditions should we exhibit anger or any punitive intent.
<<<>>>
What we must recognize is that we exult in some of our defects.
Self-righteous anger can be very enjoyable. In a perverse way we can actually take satisfaction from the fact that many people annoy us; it brings a comfortable feeling of superiority.

1. TWELVE CONCEPTS, P. 74
2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 66-67

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"We try not to indulge in cynicism over the state of the nations, nor
do we carry the world's troubles on our shoulders. When we see a man
sinking into the mire that is alcoholism, we give him first aid and
place what we have at his disposal."

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Some more things I do not miss since becoming dry: wondering if the car is in the garage and how I got home; struggling to remember where I was and what I did since my last conscious moment; trying to delay getting off to work, and wondering how I will look when I get there; dreading the day ahead of me. I'm quite sure that I don't miss these things, am I not?

Meditation for the Day

You cannot believe in God and keep your selfish ways. The old self shrivels up and dies, and upon the reborn soul God's image becomes stamped. The gradual elimination of selfishness in the growth of love for God and your fellow human beings is the goal of life. At first, you have only a faint likeness to the Divine, but the picture grows and takes on more and more of the likeness of God until those who see you can see in you some of the power of God's grace at work in a human life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may develop that faint likeness I have to the Divine. I pray
that others may see in me some of the power of God's grace at work.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012