Thoughts For The Day~*~Reprieve ^*^*^ August 13, 2008

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Reprieve
^*^*^
"It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action
and rest on our laurels.
We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.
We are not cured of alcoholism.
What we really have is a daily reprieve
contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.
Every day is a day when we must carry
the vision of God's will into all of our activities."
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

This is a program of limitless expansion. 
The gate is wide but the road is narrow.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
P R O G R A M  =  People Relying On God Relay A Message

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

Not for Nothing

From: "Empty on the Inside" 

When I was two weeks sober, a man's nine-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver, and three days later he was at a meeting saying he had to believe it wasn't for nothing. That maybe one alcoholic would get sober because of it. As I left that day, I found myself wondering what would have happened if that had been my kids, or me? What would they remember about me? A feeling came over me (I know now it was gratitude), and I realized that I could call my children right then and tell them I loved them. That I could show up when I said I would. That my word could be worth something to them. That even though I might always just be "mom who comes over on the weekends," I could be a good weekend mom. I had a chance to move forward with them, forging a relationship built on a foundation of God and Alcoholics Anonymous, rather than always trying to make up for the past. One year later I was able to share with that man that maybe it hadn't been for nothing, because my life changed that day. 

2001, AAWS, Inc., Alcoholics Anonymous, page 520

 

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
A CLEAN SWEEP

. . . and third, having thus cleared away the debris of the past,  we consider how, with our newfound knowledge of ourselves, we may develop the best possible relations with every human being we know.                        
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

As I faced the Eighth Step, everything that was required for successful completion of the previous seven Steps came together:  courage, honesty, sincerity, willingness and thoroughness. I could not muster the strength required for this task at the beginning, which is why this Step reads "Became willing. . ."

I needed to develop the courage to begin, the honesty to see where I was wrong, a sincere desire to set things right, thoroughness in making a list, and willingness to take the risks required for true humility. With the help of my Higher Power in developing these virtues, I completed this Step and continued to move forward in my quest for spiritual growth.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
The Answer in the Mirror

While drinking, we were certain that our intelligence, backed by will power,
could rightly control our inner lives and guarantee us success in the world
around us. This brave philosophy, wherein each man played God, sounded good in the speaking, but it still had to meet the acid test: How well did it
actually work? One good look in the mirror was answer enough.

<<<>>>
My spiritual awakening was electrically sudden and absolutely convincing. At once I became a part - if only a tiny part - of a cosmos that was ruled by
justice and love in the person of God. No matter what had been the
consequences of my own willfulness and ignorance, or those of my fellow
travelers on earth, this was still the truth. Such was the new and positive
assurance, and this has never left me.

1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 37 - 2. GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1962

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Everybody knows that those in bad health, and those who seldom play,
do not laugh much. So let each family play together or separately as
much as their circumstances warrant. We are sure God wants us to be
happy, joyous, and free."

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

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

"We had but two alternatives; one was to go on to the
bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our
intolerable situation as best we could, and the other
was to accept spiritual help. We became willing to
maintain a certain simple attitude toward life. What
seemed at first a flimsy reed has proved to be the
loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been
given us, a design for living that really works. All
of us establish in our own individual way our personal
relationship with God." Have I established my own
relationship with God?

Meditation for the Day

Make it a daily practice to review your character. Take
your character in relation to your daily life, to your
dear ones, your friends, your acquaintances, and your
work. Each day try to see where God wants you to change.
Plan how best each fault can be eradicated or each
mistake be corrected. Never be satisfied with a
comparison with those around you. Strive toward a better
life as your ultimate goal. God is your helper through
weakness to power, through danger to security, through
fear and worry to peace and serenity.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may make real progress toward a better life.
I pray that I may never be satisfied with my present state

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

---

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Growing Pains ^*^*^ August 12, 2008

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Growing Pains
^*^*^
"How to translate a right mental conviction into
a right emotional result,
and so into easy, happy, and good living -
well, that's not only the neurotic's problem,
it's the problem of life itself for all of us who have got
to the point of real willingness to hew to right principles.
Even then, as we hew away, peace and joy may still elude us.
That's the place so many of us AA oldsters have come to.
And it's a hell of a spot, literally."
- Bill W.
1988AAGrapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 237
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

Minds are like parachutes -
they won't work unless they're open.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S O B E R  =  Simply Observe Bill's Exemplary Recovery

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Reactions to Money

Tradition Seven: Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 

Alcoholics are certainly all-or-nothing people. Our reactions to money prove this. As A.A. emerged from its infancy into adolescence, we swung from the idea that we needed vast sums of money to the notion that A.A. shouldn't have any. On every lip were the words "You can't mix A.A. and money. We shall have to separate the spiritual from the material." We took this violent new tack because here and there members had tried to make money out of their A.A. connections, and we feared we'd be exploited. Now and then, grateful benefactors had endowed clubhouses, and as a result there was sometimes outside interference in our affairs. We had been presented with a hospital, and almost immediately the donor's son became its principal patient and would-be manager. One A.A. group was given five thousand dollars to do with what it would. The hassle over that chunk of money played havoc for years. Frightened by these complications, some groups refused to have a cent in their treasuries. 

1981, AAWS, Inc., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 161

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
A LOOK BACKWARD

First, we take a look backward and try to discover where we have been at fault; next we make a vigorous attempt to repair the damage we have done; . . .

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

As a traveler on a fresh and exciting A.A. journey of recovery,  I experienced a newfound peace of mind and the horizon appeared clear and bright, rather than obscure and dim.  Reviewing my life to discover where I had been at fault seemed to be such an arduous and dangerous task.  It was painful to pause and look backward.  I was afraid I might stumble!  Couldn't I put the past out of my mind and just live in my new golden present?  I realized that those in the past whom I had harmed stood between me and my desire to continue my movement toward serenity.  I had to ask for courage to face those persons from my life who still lived in my conscience, to recognize and deal with the guilt that their presence produced in me.  I had to look at the damage I had done, and become willing to make amends.  Only then could my journey of the spirit resume.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Leadership in A.A.

No society can function well without able leadership at all its levels, and
A.A. can be no exception. But we A.A.'s sometimes cherish the thought that we can do without much personal leadership at all. We are apt to warp the
traditional idea of "principles before personalities" around to such a point
that there would be no "personality" in leadership whatever. This would imply rather faceless robots trying to please everybody.
A leader in A.A. service is a man (or woman) who can personally put
principles, plans, and policies into such dedicated and effective action that
the rest of us naturally want to back him up and help him with his job. When
a leader powerdrives us badly, we rebel; but when he too meekly becomes an order-taker and he exercises no judgment of his own -- well, he really isn't
a leader at all.

TWELVE CONCEPTS, pp. 39, 40
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost
the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes
practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring
into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the
suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are
without defense against the first drink."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 24~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

"There was nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual
tools laid at our feet by Alcoholics Anonymous. By doing so, we have a
spiritual experience which revolutionizes our whole attitude toward life,
toward others, and toward God's universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and
lives there in a way that is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to
accomplish those things for us that we could never do for ourselves." Have I let God come into my life?

Meditation for the Day

The moment a thing seems wrong to you or a person's actions to be not what you think they should be, at that moment begins your obligation and
responsibility to pray for those wrongs to be righted or that person to be
changed. What is wrong in your surroundings or in the people you know? Think about these things and make these matters your responsibility. Not to
interfere or be a busybody, but to pray that a change may come through your influence. You may see lives altered and evils banished in time. You can become a force for good wherever you are.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be a co-worker with God. I pray  that I may help people by
my example.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

---

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Self-Restraint ^*^*^ August 11, 2008

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Self-Restraint
^*^*^
"We enjoy certain inherent advantages
which should make our task of self-restraint
relatively easy.
There is no really good reason for anyone to object
if a great many drunks get sober.
Nearly everyone can agree that this is a good thing.
If, in the process, we are forced to develop
a certain amount of honesty, humility, and tolerance,
who is going to kick about that?
If we recognize that religion is the province of the clergy
and the practice of medicine is for doctors,
we can helpfully cooperate with both.
Certainly there is little basis for controversy in these areas.
It is a fact that AA has not the slightest reform
or political complexion.
We try to pay our own expenses,
and we strictly mind our single purpose."
- Bill W.
1962AAWS, Twelve Concepts for World Service, 26th Printing, p. 69
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

We are not living just to be sober;
we are living to learn, to serve, and to love.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S W A T  =  Surrender, Willingness, Acceptance, and Trust

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

So Touchy

From: "We Agnostics" 

Besides a seeming inability to accept much on faith, we often found ourselves handicapped by obstinacy, sensitiveness, and unreasoning prejudice. Many of us have been so touchy that even casual reference to spiritual things made us bristle with antagonism. This sort of thinking had to be abandoned. Though some of us resisted, we found no great difficulty in casting aside such feelings. Faced with alcoholic destruction, we soon became as open minded on spiritual matters as we had tried to be on other questions. In this respect alcohol was a great persuader. It finally beat us into a state of reasonableness. Sometimes this was a tedious process; we hope no one else will be prejudiced for as long as some of us were. 

2001, AAWS, Inc., Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 47-48

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
REMOVING "THE GROUND GLASS"

The moral inventory is a cool examination of the damages that occurred to us during life and a sincere effort to look at them in a true perspective.  This has the effect of taking the ground glass out of us, the emotional substance that still cuts and inhibits.

AS BILL SEES IT, p. 140

My Eighth Step list used to drag me into a whirlpool of resentment.  After four years of sobriety, I was blocked by denial connected with an ongoing abusive relationship.  The argument between fear and pride eased as the words of the Step moved from my head to my heart.  For the first time in years I opened my box of paints and poured out an honest rage, an explosion of reds and blacks and yellows.  As I looked at the drawing, tears of joy and relief flowed down my cheeks.  In my disease, I had given up my art, a self-inflicted punishment far greater than any imposed from outside.  In my recovery, I learned that the pain of my defects is the very substance God uses to cleanse my character and to set me free.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
One Fellowship - Many Faiths

As a society we must never become so vain as to suppose that we are authors and inventors of a new religion. We will humbly reflect that every one of A.A.'s principles has been borrowed from ancient sources.

<<<>>>

A minister in Thailand wrote, "We took A.A.'s Twelve Steps to the largest
Buddhist monastery in this province, and the head priest said, 'Why, these
Steps are fine! For us as Buddhists, it might be slightly more acceptable if
you had inserted the word 'good' in your Steps instead of 'God.'
Nevertheless, you say that it is God as you understand Him, and that must
certainly include the good. Yes, A.A.'s Twelve Steps will surely be accepted
by the Buddhists around here."

<<<>>>

St. Louis oldtimers recall how Father Edward Dowling helped start their
group; it turned out to be largely Protestant, but this fazed him not a bit.

A.A. COMES OF AGE - 1. p. 231 - 2. p. 81 - 3. p. 37
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a
seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn't we
laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

"While alcoholics keep strictly away from drink, they react
to life much like other people. But the first drink sets
the terrible cycle in motion. Alcoholics usually have no
idea why they take the first drink. Some drinkers have
excuses with which they are satisfied, but in their hearts
they really do not know why they do it. The truth is that
at some point in their drinking they have passed into a
state where the most powerful desire to stop drinking is
of no avail." Am I satisfied that I have passed my tolerance
point for alcohol?

Meditation for the Day

He who made the ordered world out of chaos and set the stars
in their courses and made each plant to know its season, He
can bring peace and order out of your private chaos if you
will let Him. God is watching over you, too, to bless you and
care for you. Out of the darkness He is leading you to light,
out of unrest to rest, out of disorder to order, out of
faults and failure to success. You belong to God and your
affairs are His affairs and can be ordered by Him if you
are willing.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be led out of disorder into order. I pray
that I may be led out of failure into success.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

---

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Higher Power ^*^*^ August 10, 2008

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (AA)/   )
(_   /AA\ _)
  /AA\
^*^*^*^*^
Higher Power
^*^*^
"My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea.
He said,
'Why don't you choose your own conception of God?'
That statement hit me hard.
It melted the icy intellectual mountain
in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years.
I stood in the sunlight at last.
It was only a matter of being willing to believe
in a Power greater than myself.
Nothing more was required of me
to make my beginning."
- Bill W.
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 12
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

Willpower ... our will-ingness to use a Higher Power.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
B I G   B O O K  =  Believing In God Beats Our Old Knowledge

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Solo

From "Source of Strength":

"I would tell a friend of mine, who was having the same problems, that I prayed to God not to take a drink today and not to get married today. It was a sort of pact. I was very serious about this. I couldn't seem to handle romance and God too well at the same time. And God did start to give me the strength that I had always thought would come from the man in my life. "New York, New York, USA"

1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30^th printing 2004, pgs. 102-03 

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
REDOUBLING OUR EFFORTS

To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to redouble his efforts to see how many people he has hurt, and in what ways.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 77

As I continue to grow in sobriety, I become more aware of myself as a person of worth.  In the process, I am better able to see others as persons, and with this comes the realization that these were people whom I had hurt in my drinking days.  I didn't just lie, I lied about Tom.  I didn't just cheat, I cheated Joe.  What were seemingly impersonal acts, were really personal affronts, because it was people - people of worth - whom I had harmed.  I need to do something about the people I have hurt so that I may enjoy a peaceful sobriety.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Who Is to Blame

At Step Four we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking, and frightened? Though a given situation
had not been entirely our fault, we often tried to cast the whole blame on
the other person involved.
We finally saw that the inventory should be ours, not the other man's. So we
admitted our wrongs honestly and became willing to set these matters straight.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 67

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show,
humbly saying to ourselves many times each day "Thy will be done." We
are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-
pity, or foolish decisions. We become much more efficient. We do
not tire so easily, for we are not burning up energy foolishly as we
did when we were trying to arrange life to suit ourselves."

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 87

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

"The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have
discovered a common solution. We who have found this
solution to our alcoholic problem, we who are properly armed
with the facts about ourselves, can generally win the
entire confidence of another alcoholic. We who are making
the approach to new prospects have had the same difficulty
they have had. We obviously know what we are talking about.
Our whole deportment shouts at new prospects that we are
people with a real answer." Am I a person with the real
answer to the alcoholic problems of others?

Meditation for the Day

For straying from the right way there is no cure except to
keep so close to the thought of God that nothing, no other
interest, can seriously come between you and God. Sure of
that, you can stay on God's side. Knowing the way, nothing
can prevent your staying in the way and nothing can cause
you to seriously stray from it. God has promised peace if
you stay close to Him, but not leisure. You still have to
carry on in the world. He has promised heart-rest and
comfort, but not pleasure in the ordinary sense. Peace and
comfort bring real inward happiness.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may keep my feet on the way. I pray that I
may stay on God's side.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

---

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