Therefore – it has no destination…
From “A Two-Way Street” in today’s reflection;
“I was always taught to prepare for the journey through life, never realizing until I came to AA – when I honestly became willing to be taught forgiveness and forgiving – that life itself is the journey. The journey of life is a very happy one, as long as I am willing to accept change and responsibility.”
The last three days, for me, have been a journey beyond my imagination! Funny thing is – all I did was simply change a very small part of my “routine” and had no …read more

From page 65 in the 12&12;
“So Step Six – ‘Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character’ – is A.A.’s way of stating the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job.”
Think about this for a moment. It says this is a “lifetime job.” Job certainly does more than imply this will be work. Ought we think that God will be doing the work? I don’t think so, after all, God don’t row!
Nope…
“This does not mean that we expect all our character defects to be lifted out of …read more

For my friend Linda H.
“The achievement of freedom from fear is a lifetime undertaking, one that can never be wholly completed. When under heavy attack, acute illness, or in other conditions of serious insecurity, we shall all react to this emotion – well or badly, as the case may be. Only the self deceived will claim perfect freedom from fear.”
Um Hmmm.
From the Daily Reflections once again…
“Fear has caused suffering when I could have had more faith. There are times when fear suddenly tears me apart, just when I’m experiencing feelings of joy, happiness and a lightness of heart.”
I no longer …read more

“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”
“Of course, the often disputed question of whether God can – and will, under certain conditions – remove defects of character will be answered with a prompt affirmative by almost any A.A. member. To him, this proposition will be no theory at all; it will be about the largest fact in his life.”
I think the only reason anyone with a drinking problem would dispute this fact would be to justify finding a rationalization to continue drinking. But that is only my personal opinion.
They won’t give it the continued attempt …read more

Step Six: “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”
From page 63 in AA’s 12&12;
“Sure, I was beaten, absolutely licked. My own willpower just wouldn’t work on alcohol. Change of scene, the best efforts of family, friends, doctors, and clergymen got no place with my alcoholism. I simply couldn’t stop drinking, and no human being could seem to do the job for me. But when I became willing to clean house and then asked a Higher Power, God as I understood Him, to give me release, my obsession to drink vanished. It was lifted right out …read more

Having read yesterday’s Daily Reflections and seeing the results of letting go…
“Now I was stuck on Step Six and, in despair, I picked up the Big Book and read this passage. I was outside, praying for willingness, when I raised my eyes and saw a huge bird rising up in the sky. I watched it suddenly give itself up to the powerful air currents of the mountains. Swept along, swooping and soaring, the bird did things seemingly impossible for mortal birds to do. It was an inspiring example of a fellow creature ‘letting go’ to a power greater than itself. …read more

“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

“This is the Step that separates the men from the boys. So declares a well-loved clergyman who happens to be one of A.A.’s greatest friends. He goes on to explain that any person capable of enough willingness and honesty to try repeatedly Step Six on all his faults – without any reservations whatever – has indeed come a long way spiritually, and is therefore entitled to be called a man who is sincerely trying to grow in the image and likeness of his own Creator.”

It could have just as …read more

From yesterday’s Daily Reflection;
Trusting Others
“But does trust require that we be blind to other people’s motives or, indeed, to our own? Not at all; this would be folly. Most certainly, we should assess the capacity for harm as well as the capability for good in every person that we would trust. Such a private inventory can reveal the degree of confidence we should extend in any given situation.”
As Bill Sees It, p. 144
The response begins “I am not a victim of others, but rather a victim of my expectations, choices and dishonesty. When I expect others to be what I …read more

This feeling is mentioned in today’s Daily Reflection, “Fear and Faith.”
“Fear has caused suffering when I could have had more faith. There are times when fear suddenly tears me apart, just when I’m experiencing feelings of joy, happiness and a lightness of heart. Faith – and a feeling of self-worth toward a Higher Power – helps me endure tragedy and ecstasy. When I choose to give all of my fears over to my Higher Power, I will be free.”
I don’t often take the time to question how much faith I may have at any given moment, do you? Isn’t how …read more

I just checked and nowhere, last year or this, have I actually stated the Sixth Step. Therefore and thuswith…
“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”
Are you “any person?”
Page 63 in the 12&12 speaks of a “well-loved clergyman” who explained that “any person capable of enough willingness and honesty to try repeatedly Step Six on all his faults – without any reservations whatever – has indeed come a long way spiritually, and is therefore entitled to be called a man who is sincerely trying to grow in the image and likeness of his own Creator.”
I’m glad …read more