Daily Reflections reading January 9th

 

An Act Of Providence

 

It is truly awful to admit that, glass in hand, we have warped our minds into such an obsession for destructive drinking that only an act of Providence can remove it from us. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 21

 

My act of Providence, (a manifestation of divine care and direction), came as I experienced the total bankruptcy of active alcoholism – everything meaningful in my life was gone. I telephoned Alcoholics Anonymous and, from that instant, my life has never been the same. When I reflect on that very special moment, I know that God was working in my life long before I was able to acknowledge and accept spiritual concepts. The glass was put down through this one act of Providence and my journey into sobriety began. My life continues to unfold with divine care and direction. Step One, in which I admitted I was powerless over alcohol, that my life had become unmanageable, takes on more meaning for me – one day at a time – in the life-saving, life-giving Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.

 

© Alcoholics Anonymous World Services

 

My thoughts on January 9th Reading

 

Step one was an absolute to my recovery, for so many years I was convinced that I had the power to do anything, I thought I could change people, circumstances, just about anything I wanted to, I also thought that I could stop drinking any time I wanted to

When alcohol finally brought me to my knees and God gave me the gift of desperation, I began to understand with your help, and God's, that I was powerless, not only over alcohol but over other people, places and things

 

I know that I can't change another person, I can only try to show the road to recovery, knowing God is driving the bus, no me, all I have to do is sit in the middle of the bus and enjoy the ride knowing God will handle what comes my, way if I let Him

 

The power of God forced me to see why I came into the halls, it was because I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired, and couldn't go a day without booze, my life was a real mess because of alcohol completely unmanageable doing it alone

 

An act of providence it sure was, but at the time I was to sick to see this, it was only by surrendering to alcohol, I became willing to go to any lengths to stay sober and find a new way to live my life on God's terms not my own free will

 

Yes I accepted step one is being powerless over alcohol, accepting and surrendering to the disease was asking for help to change myself, I had to completely surrender to alcohol and to all the ISM’s of my disease of alcoholism

 

The fears of changing the pride and ego that was false the being in charge of the universe these things I though I had complete control of, what it was like in the beginning was I tried to do all the right things got a sponsor, depended on him far too much

 

I wanted him to keep me sober without looking at myself, I told a friend in recovery about this and he told me the truth about recovery it’s all in how you use the HP in your life every time a door closes behind you your left in the dark for a few minutes till God opens a new door into your life

 

Its in these times I needed to use the whole program to face all of my truths not only did I need a sponsor but I needed a small inner circle of friends that will be with me in times of need, so I would never again be alone

 

But some times I need that extra push thru my Higher power to move on thru the wreckage of my past, I had to deal with it so I too can become happy and at peace with others and myself, many people pass thru my life in recovery I need to learn from each of them

 

When God came into my life things started to change I learned how to accept love and learned how to forgive others and my self for all that happened in my past I learned How to ask for forgiveness from those I had harmed in the drunken past

 

Change is constant for everyone my acceptance of this change is what the serenity is all about courage is the willingness the real key to all change with out it we can't walk thru the fear God has given me the wisdom to know the difference today it is simply changing me

 

 God bless you Al M

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