January 24
Daily Reflections
GETTING INVOLVED
There is action and more action. "Faith without works
is dead." . . . To be helpful is our only aim.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS , pp. 88-89
I understand that service is a vital part of recovery
but I often wonder, "What can I do?" Simply start with
what I have today! I look around to see where there is
a need. Are the ashtrays full? Do I have hands and feet
to empty them? Suddenly I'm involved! The best speaker
may make the worst coffee; the member who's best
with newcomers may be unable to read; the one willing to
clean up may make a mess of the bank account -
yet every one of these people and jobs is essential
to an active group. The miracle of service is this:
when I use what I have, I find there is more available
to me than I realized before.
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As Bill Sees It
Alike When The Chips Are Down, p. 24
In the beginning, it was four whole years before A.A. brought permanent
sobriety to even one alcoholic woman. Like the "high bottoms," the
women said they were different; A.A. couldn't be for them. But as the
communication was perfected, mostly by the women themselves, the
picture changed.
This process of identification and transmission has gone on and on. The
Skid-Rower said he was different. Even more loudly, the socialite (or
Park Avenue stumblebum) said the same--so did the artists and the
professional people, the rich, the poor, the religious, the agnostic, the
Indians and the Eskimos, the veterans, and the prisoners.
But nowadays all of these, and legions more, soberly talk about how
very much alike all of us alcoholics are when we admit that the chips are
finally down.
Grapevine, October 1959
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Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition
Chapter 7 - WORKING WITH OTHERS
It is not the matter of giving that is in question, but when and how to give. That often makes the difference between failure and success. The minute we put our work on a service plane, the alcoholic commences to rely upon our assistance rather than upon God. He clamors for this or that, claiming he cannot master alcohol until his material needs are cared for. Nonsense. Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job—wife or no wife—we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God.
p. 98
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Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
Tradition Seven - "Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions."
"The meeting that night was at New York's old 24th Street Clubhouse. During the intermission, the treasurer gave a timid talk on how broke the club was. (That was in the period when you couldn't mix money and A.A.) But finally he said it--the landlord would put us out if we didn't pay up. He concluded his remarks by saying, "Now boys, please go heavier on the hat tonight, will you?"
p. 163
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Allowing an unimportant mistake to pass without comment is a wonderful social grace. --Judith Martin
"One never knows what each day is going to bring. The important thing is to be open and ready for it." --Henry Moore
"You cannot plan the future by the past." --Edmund Burke
Slow down to relish the wonder of God's creation. --Glen Childress
God makes possible what we cannot accomplish alone. --Gary Shank
Faith in God changes our manner of living. --Chester L Schneider
God's reassuring, caring love is with us moment by moment. --Walter N. Maris
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Father Leo's Daily Meditation
OPPORTUNITY
"Too many people are thinking
of security instead of
opportunity; they seem more
afraid of life than death."
-- James Byrnes
Today I am aware of the opportunities that I did not recognize when I
was drinking. Drinking stopped me from seeing the life that was
before me. I drank myself away from the daily miracle. I missed the
sunsets, the fun of relationships, the joy of the theater and the
satisfaction of being "aware".
In the business world I did not see the opportunity for profit and
expansion; I did not create or have faith in my ideas, and I was not
able to understand or absorb the new information to be successful in
my life. Alcoholism kept me on the outside of my life.
Today I am alive in my life, creating, expanding and enjoying my
leisure. With sobriety I have the opportunity to experience God in
the many aspects of life.
Teach me to find You in the risks of life.
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"Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven." Psalm 107:30
We are to grow up in all aspects into Him. Ephesians 4:15
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3
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Daily Inspiration
If you can't see more blessings than you can count, you aren't looking hard enough. Thank you, Lord, for all of my blessings and especially those that I don't recognize or take for granted.
Be joyful in whatever you do today because you have been blessed, are being blessed and have many more blessings waiting for you. Lord, I am so grateful for Your love.
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Each Day a New Beginning (Women)
Food for Thought
Language of Letting Go
Today's Gift
Touchstones (Men)
Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Walk In Dry Places