Daily
Reflections reading January 20th
We Pause…And Ask
As
we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the
right thought or action. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p.87
Today
I humbly ask my Higher Power for the grace to find the space between my impulse
and my action; to let flow a cooling breeze when I would respond with heat; to
interrupt fierceness with gentle peace; to accept the moment which allows
judgment to become discernment; to defer to silence when my tongue would rush
to attack or defend. I promise to watch for every opportunity to turn toward my
Higher Power for guidance. I know where this power is: it resides within me, as
clear as a mountain brook, hidden in the hills – it is the unsuspected Inner
Resource. I thank my Higher Power for this world of light and truth I see when
I allow it to direct my vision. I trust it today and hope it trusts me to make
all effort to find the right thought or action today.
© Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
My thoughts on January 20th Reading
I have been fortunate enough to enjoy life because of AA
today I know I must stay vigilant and protect what was freely suggested to me,
freedom from booze gave me the chance to grow and it gave me the opportunity to
make the best of my new sober life
Yes I did pause and I had to ask what can AA do for me, to
my surprise the man I asked said AA can not do anything for you, if you want
recovery you have to follow the steps and get active given this back, you do
for AA not the other way around
I try to carry the message as it was given to me and then I
must let go and trust in the process of my making it attractive to the new
comer and can only pray that they see some thing to help them see the way to
their own recovery AA is the best pathway to finding this
I have seen many who are in need, alcohol denies them the
freedom to be fully alive I know I could not be free and sane when my life was
ruled by my alcoholism but by carrying the program to others I can help them
return to sanity and growth from the bonds of alcoholism
I see people new to recovery who enter the program only to
encounter an enormous crisis or difficulty in there life which sometimes
inflicts pain when someone is down difficulties do come in moments of struggle
and we become aware of the reality of our life
Alcoholism isolated and drove me to retreat from humanity
into a single unhappy way of life, my world narrowed and any kind of joy or
happiness was taken away from me until I asked the help of others before I
retreated into the bottle again
Sponsors are one of the greatest gifts in recovery they come
as a result of a life that's sane It takes time and energy to find the right
person but the rewards are worth it, they gladly give their honesty trust and
unconditional love and acceptance to us all
As sponsorship grew I found myself more able to understand
the needs of others, my sponsor listen empathetically without judging to
whatever, I was going through he could put aside his needs to help another he
put my needs at the moment first
As my recovery helped me to develop the skills it takes to
be a good sponsor I found I to could let go of my needs to help my sponsee to
relieve the overwhelming problems of the day then I also could let go and let
our friendships develop naturally
I know in my own isolation everything became magnified
without my sponsor to help me form new perceptions, whatever I could imagine
became a monstrous reality,
In my past I held back, I declined closeness, this is again
where I paused and asked am I putting myself at risk lacking the experience of
others, I am always vulnerable, not only to loneliness, but also to fear and
anger I have to pause and ask many times over
Today watching people awaken to the presence of a loving God
of their own understanding is what I receive when I try to carry the AA message
to the alcoholic who still suffers I sit in AA meetings to pause and listen to
get something for me to carry on another day
Just by being there filling the chair is a great support so
others can see they are not alone when I speak at a meeting I try to carry
God's message of hope love and forgiveness that we all make mistakes and are
all worth saving from this disease
God bless you AL M
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suggestions or comments
