Daily Reflections
August 7
A “DESIGN FOR LIVING”
We in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, “a design for living” that really works.
-ALCOHOLIC ANONYMOUS , p. 28
I try each day to raise my heart and hands in thanks to God for showing me a “design for living” that really works through our beautiful Fellowship. But what, exactly, is this “design for living” that “really works”? For me, it is the practice of the Twelve Steps to the best of my ability, the continued awareness of a God who loves me unconditionally, and the hope that, in each new day, there is a purpose for my being. I am truly, truly blessed in the Fellowship.
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
August 7
A.A. Thought For The Day
We in A.A. are offering an intangible thing, a psychological and spiritual program. It’s a wonderful program. When we learn to turn to a Higher Power, with faith that that Power can give us the strength we need, we find peace of mind. When we reeducate our minds by learning to think differently, we find new interests that make life worthwhile. We who have achieved sobriety through faith in God and mental reeducation are modern miracles. it is the function of our A.A. program to produce modern miracles. Do I consider the change in my life a modern miracle?
Meditation For The Day
You should never doubt that God’s spirit is always with you, wherever you are, to keep you on the right path. God’s keeping power is never at fault, only your realization of it. You must try to believe in God’s nearness and availability of His grace. It is not a question of whether God can provide a shelter from the storm, but of whether or not you seek the security of that shelter. Every fear, worry, or doubt is disloyalty to God. You must endeavor to trust God wholly. Practice saying: “All is going to be well.” Say it to yourself until you feel it deeply.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that I may feel deeply that all is well. I pray that nothing will be able to move me from that deep conviction.
Walk In Dry Places
August 7
Competing with others
Attitude
Some of us never liked close competition. We preferred to be clear winners or not to compete at all. We didn’t like to have competitors breathing down our necks.
This attitude kept us from doing our best, and we made a mistake when we thought we were competing with others. We’re actually competing with ourselves at all times, trying to do better than we did yesterday. The presence of other people only helps us to set performance standards and goals.
Once we accept the idea of self-improvement, we can delight in competition. We can take satisfaction in situations where, though we were not number one, we came in a close second instead of a sullen last.
I’ll know today that I’m always working with others but only competing against myself.
Father Leo’s Daily Meditation
August 7
PREJUDICE
“There is no more evil thing in the world than race prejudice . . . it justifies and holds together more baseness, cruelty and abomination than any other sort of error in the world.”
– H. G. Wells
Something about me fears racism because I know that I am at risk. If a group of people can be persecuted or ridiculed for being “different” from others, then why shouldn’t it eventually happen to me? With racism the whole world is at risk.
Also racism is the opposite of spirituality. Spirituality always seeks to include, bring together and unite. The world that God has made is ONE. All people and races are “a family” that must learn to co-exist together if we are to be productive and creative. In the variety is the strength. With the unusual and peculiar comes divinity. God is to be found in the confusions of life.
Teacher, let me have the courage to expose the inadequacies in my life.
One Day At A Time
August 7
~ SERVICE ~
You cannot do a kindness too soon … because you never know how soon it will be too late.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
So many people in program sit silently in meetings because they don’t think they have anything of importance to say. Perhaps they haven’t been in program very long, and feel that, because they aren’t a seasoned veteran, they haven’t the right to speak up. But everyone’s experiences and insights are different, and I would appreciate hearing from those who are quiet. They just might say something that will keep me from losing my serenity and abstinence. It would be a kindness for them to speak up.
I’ve had people tell me, “Oh, I can’t pick up the phone and make an outreach call to someone I just met.” To that I say, “Why not?” It would be a kindness to let someone know that you’re there and you care about them.
Sometimes a person will say, “But I’m having a bad day myself; how can I offer hope to someone when I’m in such a shape?” It would be a kindness to share your struggle, for you would be giving others the chance to serve. I think it’s as much a selfishness on our part to deny someone the opportunity to serve us as it is to deny our service to someone who is hurting.
Ours is a fatal disease. I don’t want to risk missing the chance to serve someone who may not be with us tomorrow. I want to do that kindness today in case it’s YOU who isn’t here tomorrow. I hope you would do that kindness today in case it’s ME who isn’t here tomorrow.
One Day at a Time …
I will perform an act of kindness, for I never know when I may forever lose that opportunity.
~ JAR
Elder’s Meditation of the Day
August 7
“Everything I know I learned by listening and watching.”
–Vernon Cooper, LUMBEE
Sometimes my mind is talking so fast about so many different things that I can’t slow it down. All day long I am judging and making assumptions about everything.
Great Spirit, help me this day to slow down. Help me to listen – quietly. Help me to watch carefully. Help me to listen to my inner voice.
Let me listen and watch only the thing You would have me observe. Guide my eyes and my ears to be focused on You. Grandfather, love me today and teach me to be quiet.
Touchstones Meditations For Men
August 7
We love because it’s the only true adventure.
—Nikki Giovanni
In loving, we meet ourselves. As we have become more honest, we no longer make excuses about our relationship problems. We can’t blame our troubles on our partner. Our problems with love were often because we didn’t know how to be close or we didn’t dare to be.
When we let ourselves engage in this adventure, we meet many obstacles – things we can’t control, and sometimes we want to quit right there. We have arguments and disappointments as well as good feelings. But what adventure is without difficulty or surprises? Part of the reason for choosing new experiences is to confront forces outside our control. A relationship is a dialogue. Only if we stay with it through the frustrations, express our deepest feelings openly, and listen to our partner, do we achieve a new level of understanding and confidence in the relationship. Then deeper levels also open within ourselves.
Today, I will let honesty guide me in this adventure of my love dialogue.
Daily TAO
August 7
Composure
Although they may have to kill
Or suffer themselves to be killed,
A person of composure remains dispassionate.
Nothing is ever destroyed.
Nothing is ever created.
All is infinity.
For most people, killing is an abhorrence. If they had to kill, they would be horrified and their emotions would be uncontrollable. Likewise, if they were being threatened with death, they would be afraid and would struggle to keep alive.
Both these situations involve extreme attachment to what we know and how we wish to remain. Both situations indicate a fundamentally limited view of the world. We assume we are truly destroying someone. But though this body may be slain, the soul cannot be slain. Every soul is but a part of an infinite, cosmic soul.
You could subtract numerous souls from the world, and the number of souls would not be diminished. Numerous souls could be born, and the number of souls would not be augmented. Nothing is truly destroyed, and nothing is truly born. Only appearances change.
Therefore, people of composure view the transformation of the world calmly. They do not become alarmed with the different permutations of phenomena. They know these are all merely outer manifestations of an indefinable, unlimited, and infinite reality.
Daily Zen
August 7
Excessive thinking
Weakens the will.
The more you know,
The more your mind
Is confused.
A confused mind gives
Rise to vexation.
The weakened will obstructs the Tao.
– Shih Wang Ming (6th c.)