People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.
A Vision for You "Some of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find understanding companionship and approval. Momentarily we did -- then would come oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen -- Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair. Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand!" From the book Alcoholics Anonymous. Page 151, Third Edition.
The Reaction Prayer God, Please help me to “act” toward people instead of react. Please help me find my center of balance and know who I am. Please allow me to be in command of my own conduct. Please remind me, as you commanded , to return good for evil. Please help me keep my spiritual temperature on an even keel so that I am not at the mercy of the social elements. Please allow my euphoria to come from self approval instead of from the praise of others. Please keep me from becoming bitter at others opinions, snubs or criticisms. Grant me the serenity that comes with being a master of my own actions and attitudes. Please help me to remember that the only true possession is self-possession. AMEN
A Pair-o-dux a day for 4 Days: Day #4...The End (lol)
We DIE TO LIVE. That is a beautiful paradox straight out of the Biblical idea of being “born again” or “losing one’s life to find it. When we work at our Twelve Steps, the old life of guzzling and fuzzy thinking, and all that goes with it, gradually dies, and we acquire a different and a better way of life. As our shortcomings are removed, one life of us dies, and another life of us lives. We in A.A. die to live. From “The Professor and the Paradox“, a story that appeared in the second edition of the Big Book from 1955 to 1976.
We SUFFER TO GET WELL. There is no way to escape the terrible suffering of remorse and regret and shame and embarrassment which starts us on the road to getting well from our affliction. There is no new way to shake out a hangover. It’s painful. And for us, necessarily so. I told this to a friend of mine as he sat weaving to and fro on the side of the bed, in terrible shape, about to die for some paraldehyde. I said, “Lost John” -that’s his nickname-“Lost John, you know you’re going to have to do a certain amount of shaking sooner or later.” “Well,” he said, “for God’s sake let’s make it later!” We suffer to get well.
A Pair-o-dux a day for 4 Days: Day #2 We GIVE AWAY TO KEEP. That seems absurd and untrue. How can you keep anything if you give it away? But in order to keep whatever it is we get in A.A., we must go about giving it away to others, for no fees or rewards of any kind. When we cannot afford to give away what we have received so freely in A.A., we had better get ready for our next “drunk.”It will happen every time. We’ve got to continue to give it away in order to keep it. From “The Professor and the Paradox“, a story that appeared in the second edition of the Big Book from 1955 to 1976.
It's beautiful out today, and finally warm to boot It's been pretty out but cold lately, but today it's warm as well. Looking forward to going on a spiritual retreat in a few hours. Life is good
hugs
Jessie
Nia wrote:
How's tricks ? we are quite busy and tis a good thing after such a slow winter- Hoper things are bright and cheery out your way!
A Pair-o-dux a day for 4 Days: Day #1 We SURRENDER TO WIN. On the face of it, surrendering certainly does not seem like winning. But it is in A.A. Only after we have come to the end of our rope,hit a stone wall in some aspect of our lives beyond which we can go no further; only when we hit “bottom” in despair and surrender,can we accomplish sobriety which we could never accomplish before. We must, and we do, surrenderin order to win. From “The Professor and the Paradox“, a story that appeared in the second edition of the Big Book from 1955 to 1976.
Once there was a drinking man Bill Wilson was his name yet he deserves a front row seat in histories hall of fame He spoke more about living than we will ever feel He wrote the language of the heart so we can find what's real
CHORUS Lets drink to old Bill Wilson Yes lift your coffee high As long as there's an A A Don't let his memory die.
That he was facing victory never once occurred to him Very few would be sober If it weren’t for Bill Wilson He spoke at many meetings said to live we have to care There's drunks who love the bottle lets treat them fair and square listen to their sad stories don't laugh away their pride Let them know we've been there and that we're on their side
CHORUS
There's recovery unity and service that tell of Wilson's fame But compared to what went before it's civilized and tame The big book is good council the traditions show the way Thank God for the way of life That's known as A A
It's been pretty out but cold lately, but today it's warm as well. Looking forward to going on a spiritual retreat in a few hours. Life is good
