Daily Reflections
November 25
A POWERFUL TRADITION
Beginning with Bill’s momentous decision in Akron to make a telephone call rather than a visit to the hotel bar, how often has a Higher Power made itself felt at crucial moments in our history! The eventual importance that the principle of anonymity would acquire was but dimly perceived, if at all, in those early days. There seems to have been an element of chance even in the choice of a name for our Fellowship.
God is no stranger to anonymity and often appears in human affairs in the guises of “luck”, “chance,” or “coincidence.” If anonymity, somewhat fortuitously, became the spiritual basis for all of our Traditions, perhaps God was acting anonymously on our behalf.
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
November 25
A.A. Thought For The Day
I am not so envious of other people, nor am I so jealous of other people’s possessions and talents. When I was drinking, I was secretly full of jealousy and envy of those people who could drink normally, who had the love and respect of their families, who lived a normal life and were accepted as equals by their friends. I pretended to myself that I was as good as they were, but I knew it wasn’t so. Now I don’t have to be envious any more. I try not to want what I don’t deserve. I’m content to live with what I have earned by my efforts to live the right way. More power to those who have what I have not.
At least, I’m trying. Have I got rid of the poison of envy?
Meditation For The Day
“My soul is restless till it finds its rest in Thee.” A river flows on, until it loses itself in the sea. Our spirits long for rest in the Spirit of God. We yearn to realize a peace, a rest, a satisfaction that we have never found in the world or its pursuits. Some are not conscious of their need, and shut down the doors of their spirits against the spirit of God. They are unable to have true peace.
Prayer For The Day
I pray that I may feel the divine unrest. I pray that my soul may find its rest in God.
Walk In Dry Places
November 25
What ought to work– but doesn’t
Understanding Alcoholism
One of the old theories about alcoholism was that we drink because we had deep psychological problems. It followed that if we could clear up these problems, we would no longer need to drink excessively.
Another theory was that staying dry for a long period of time would dislodge one’s alcoholic tendencies. After a certain length of sobriety, we would be able to return to normal drinking. (NOT)
Both theories sound plausible, but in practice neither has worked. Many of us came to grief trying to make these ideas work.
What we eventually learn about psychological problems is that they may intensify our troubles, but they are not the real cause of our alcoholism. The cause may be rooted in some physical problem that enables us to achieve unusual highs from drinking. We also know that one drink acts as a trigger for more drinking— at least for us.
Our answer has been, first and foremost, to eliminate the first drink. Even if it doesn’t square with theories, it works.
No matter how long I’ve been sober, one drink would be deadly to me. Accepting that fact enabled me to get sober after finding that theories about my problem weren’t working.
Keep It Simple
November 25
Love is the reward of love.
-Johann von Schiller
When we used alcohol and other drugs, we shared little as possible. There was little love in our hearts. We had become selfish. This caused us to be lonely.
Then something happened to change all of that. Remember the first time you walked into a meeting? You were met by people who shared. Maybe they shared a smile, their story, or just a cup of coffee with you. The sharing that goes on in a Twelve Step program is great. We learn that the more we give, the more we get. We get well by giving to others. Helping others is a great way to hold on to sobriety. Love is the reward of love.
Prayer for the Day: I pray that I will be there when others need me. I pray that service will become a big part of my program.
Action for the Day: Today, I’ll think of friends who could use my help. I’ll talk to them and offer to be there for them.
A recovering alcoholic without a sponsor is much like a ship without a rudder.
-unknown“A positive attitude is like a fire: Unless you continue to add fuel, it goes out.”
-Alexander LockhartWe’re all going to have winds and waves in our lives but nothing that happens can destroy your life unless you allow it to destroy what’s in you. Work on building conscious contact with God that is stronger than anything in the world, so you don’t look to the world as your guidance. Look within and you will find the power and love of God.
-Mary Manin Morrissey“The sweetest of all sounds is praise.”
-XenophonStart living now.
Stop saving the good china for that special occasion.
Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes.
Every day you are alive is a special occasion.
Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God.
-Mary Manin Morrissey
Father Leo’s Daily Meditation
November 25
IDEALISM
“I am an idealist. I don’t know where I am going but I’m on my way.”
-Carl Sandburg
Today I am on the move. I feel an energy in my life that gets excited each day. New people, new places, new ideas all give me “a spiritual charge” that help me enjoy my life.
I don’t have all the answers and sometimes I am confused but today I can live with this and enjoy it. God seems to reveal Himself more in the questions rather than the answers; it is the problems that produce the growth.
The journey of my life is an adventure that is free and unchartered, even the pain and problems produce a benefit that can be used for my recovery. Nothing need be wasted.
I am the Way. I am the Truth. I am the Light.
Daily Inspiration
November 25
If you worry a little each day, it eventually will add up to years. Lord, without Your strength it is so easy to let circumstances rob me of my joy.
God is calling us to experience peace, satisfaction and joy as we have never experienced. Lord, I will follow You as You lift me to new levels of living.
Elder’s Meditation of the Day
November 25
“People and nations who understand the Natural Law are self-governing, following the principles of love and respect that insure freedom and peace.”
-Traditional Circle of Elders, NAVAJO-HOPI
The Natural Laws work hand-in-hand with the circle.
Each part of a circle will look to the center and will see something different.
For example, if you put an irregular shaped object in the center of a circle and you have people standing in a circle around the object, each one will describe it differently. Everyone in the circle will be right. Only by honoring and respecting everyone’s input, can the truth about the object be revealed. We need to learn to honor differences.
My Creator, let me honor all differences.
Journey to the Heart
November 25
Make Today a Healing Day
Take time for healing. Take time for what soothes your body, your mind, your soul.
Take a bath. Light a candle. Read a book. Take a walk. Get a massage. See your favorite healer if you desire. See a movie. Buy some flowers. Drink a cup of tea.
Sometimes we talk ourselves out of doing something healing for ourselves. We’re too busy, too tired. But that is when we most need to take care of ourselves. Listen to your heart. What does it want? Listen to your body. What does it need? Trust what you hear.
Make today a healing day. Then take some time and make every day a healing day.
Today’s Gift
November 25
All music is what awakes from you when you are reminded by the instruments.
—Walt Whitman
A small group of friends sat in a room around a record player. It was a heavy old thing, with parts that had to be operated by hand and only one speaker – nothing like a modern stereo at all, but more like an antique phonograph. The record – a recording of their favorite music – was old, too, and scratched, its grooves worn smooth as a stone in some places. The tone arm skipped and scratched, and the sound was tinny, hard on the ears.
Most of the friends squirmed in their seats as they listened, and several grumbled that it was impossible to hear the music with such inferior equipment.
But one of the group sat listening, her eyes closed, swaying to the music and humming softly to herself.
“How can you enjoy this?” the others asked.
“Ah,” she said with a mysterious smile. “I am listening beyond the recording to the music I know is there!”
Can I find the music that’s playing for me today?
Touchstones Meditations For Men
November 25
It’s the awareness, the full experience … of how you are stuck, that makes you recover.
—Frederick S. Perls
When we become aware of how far off our path we have strayed, when we see how cold and hard we were to someone we love, when we are no longer blind to our blindness – then we are touched by painful feelings. We feel guilty about the harm we caused. We grieve the lost moments and lost opportunities. We may feel angry with ourselves for our stubbornness. But even with our pain, we are worlds away from that blindness.
This new awareness is a spiritual place. It brings us back into contact with our Higher Power and makes us available to the words of wisdom and concern of others. It reminds us that no man can walk this path on his own power. We all must remain open and in contact with the healing relationships around us.
I pray for awareness today as my doorway to spiritual healing.
Daily TAO
November 25
UMBILICUS
People consider the navel a vestigial nub
And think nourishment only comes through the mouth.
Not so. Tao is the great mother,
And vitality untold lies in the region of the umbilicus.
The old books call Tao the great mother. Tao provides for us as a mother would. It shelters us, nourishes us, makes our life possible. We are literally tied to the vitality of Tao.
Lying dormant inside us are point of concentration. Most people are unaware that concentration on these points will yield specific forces to cure ailments, alter consciousness, and still the mind. Like a treasure buried in the ruins of a sacred place, these spots only await discovery before they give their owner wondrous powers.