God grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change;
Courage to change
the things I can;
and Wisdom
to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
February 21, 2023
I'M PART OF THE WHOLE
At once, I became a part–
if only a tiny part–of a cosmos….
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 225
When I first came to A.A.,
I decided that “they” were very nice people–
perhaps a little naive, a little too friendly,
but basically decent, earnest people
(with whom I had nothing in common).
I saw “them” at meetings –
after all, that was where “they” existed.
I shook hands with “them” and,
when I went out the door, I forgot about “them.”
Then one day my Higher Power,
whom I did not then believe in,
arranged to create a community project outside of A.A.,
but one which happened to involve many A.A. members.
We worked together, I got to know “them” as people.
I came to admire “them,” even to like “them” and,
in spite of myself, to enjoy “them.”
“Their” practice of the program in their daily lives–
not just talk at meetings –
attracted me and I wanted what they
had. Suddenly the “they” became “we.”
I have not had a drink since.
******************************
Out of the Dark
Self-searching is the means
by which we bring new vision, action, and grace
to bear upon the dark and negative side of our natures.
With it comes the development of that kind of humility
that makes it possible for us to receive God’s help.
Yet it is only a step. We will want to go further.
We will want the good that is in us all,
even in the worst of us, to flower and grow.
But first of all, we shall want sunlight,
nothing much can grow in the dark.
Meditation is our step out into the sun.
“A clear light seems to fall upon us all–
when we open our eyes.
Since our blindness is caused by our own defects,
we must first deeply realize what they are.
Constructive meditation is the first requirement
for each new step in our spiritual growth.”
1. Twelve and Twelve, p. 98 - 2. Letter, 1946
*****
A good self-examination of AA attitude
might include the question,
“Am I a dead weight in AA?”
No matter why any individual goes to meetings,
no matter what YOU think YOU are bringing to it
or getting out of AA –
if it isn’t to locate a newcomer to take through the steps
and get him to God,
you just might be wasting your, his and God's time.
It doesn't matter how many pithy shares you launch,
no matter how much coffee you make,
how many service meetings you attend,
how many times you give out your phone number
to someone you know damn well is never going to call you –
if you aren’t going to meetings
with the sole purpose of finding another alkie
to take through the twelve steps –
then you are dragging the fellowship into the ground,
and one day when its completely gone,
when no meetings exist anymore
which come close to resembling the original purpose,
you should not wonder why.
Via - Danny J Schwarzhoff
******************************
God is no stranger to anonymity
and often appears in human affairs
in the guises of “luck,” “chance,”
or “coincidence.”
Joe McFadden
It seems in every interaction there is something to learn
if we can only see ourselves as students.
If we can humble ourselves,
and allow ourselves to see the world
without our own beliefs and dogmas,
then we could see so much beauty
awaiting us in each momen
