Howdy all -
Really good imagery in the mind's eye today. A scene in the mountainous forest, in oils. The central figure for the symbolic picture is a huge tree. A snapshot of 5 people; an older couple, a younger couple and a young lass. They are together on an outing. Obviously happy to be together.
Normally my pictures show an aspect of recovery. This one is no different. There is a important paragraph called "the Promises" in AA's big book. It tells us what joy can be had simply by doing the 12 simple steps. The picture above shows those promises in all their glory.
I joined this site few years back and made a few friends, some of which are still here and we cross virtual paths on occasion. Tina (Godluvsall) and I hit it off well from the beginning and a friendship bloomed, soon including her husband (then fiance) and daughter and my wife. Little did any of us know that we would meet 6000 feet up in the mountains when this all started those years ago.
Yesterday we did. It was like we had known each other for years. Friends out playing tourist and having a picnic lunch high in the Sierras. Chatting and laughing. Speaking (kindly of course!) of common friends. Taking pictures. Wandering about. We eventually hugged and were forced to go our separate ways.
So what has this to do with recovery and those much touted promises? If she or I'd have still been drinking, none of this could ever have happened. Nor many of the tears of both pain and joy that led to and cemented this friendship.The good Lord has in fact done for us more than we could have ever done for ourselves.
Changing our lives forever. For the good.
Will this happen again? Mebbe, mebbe not.
Does it matter? Not really. Would be wonderful if it did, but it doesn't have to. We don't need it.
It would not be the same the second time.
"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us—sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them."
Remember, you can have these promises come true. All you have to do is want them more than anything in the world...
Nuff Said,
Dennis
BTW - the tree is named "General Sherman": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Sherman_(tree) Big is putting it mildly...
