And ours too…
From the current online Grapevine issue – “A Child of Woodstock”, additional validation of many years of my adult life. Similar thoughts had been expressed to me well after the divorce when I had seen my ex for the first time in many months. She didn’t appear to be the person I had known and I brought it to my sponsor. His explanation was quite close;
“What is relevant here, as I began to realize slowly in AA, is that it was alcohol that made our marriage possible for all the years we stayed together. We drank as our …read more

Anger is another topic that has received little play in meetings in this locale in recent memory. A lot can be written and said about anger by alcoholics. I am in full agreement with Mel B.;
“What really is behind a temper outburst? A temper explosion is not something that just blows up out of nowhere, a storm without a cause. It is actually a surface manifestation of inner hostility, of the emotions we often call ‘resentments’ in AA. I’ve learned that I am subject to moments of rage only if I allow myself to wallow around in a swamp of …read more

Most of us don’t realize to what extent we are defiant.
I first published this two years ago and I’d like to refer to it again. It feels very appropriate considering some of the folks who’ve displayed their own recently…
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It surprised me when I discovered how defiant I had been toward God in my drinking days and for quite some time after He helped me sober up.
Small, simple things like, “no, I’ll do it my way, thank you.” Do you have any idea how often and to what degree we do this?
There’s an old “story” I wish I could relate about …read more

And thereby making defeat rightly accepted needing not to be a disaster…
From The Language of the Heart, page 270;
“It is always worthwhile to consider how grossly that good word acceptance can be misused. It can be warped to justify nearly every brand of weakness, nonsense, and folly. For instance, we can ‘accept’ failure as a chronic condition, forever without profit or remedy. We can ‘accept’ worldly success pridefully, as something wholly of our own making. We can also ‘accept’ illness and death as certain evidence of a hostile and godless universe. With these twistings of acceptance, we AAs have had …read more

Avail us nothing…

I first published this last year. It remains true.
January 7th’s Reflection speaks of turning points. Sometimes they are beginnings and sometimes they are endings. I can understand that. I don’t like it but, then again, it doesn’t matter whether I like them or not, everything will unfold the way it was meant to.
Thy Will, Not Mine Be Done

We sit in meetings, we offer others our experience, strength and hope, we share the stories of our lives.
Why?
I think the last paragraph of the preface of the Fourth Edition says it well;
“All changes made over the years in the Big Book (A.A. members’ fond nickname for this volume) have had the same purpose: to represent the current membership of Alcoholics Anonymous more accurately, and thereby to reach more alcoholics. If you have a drinking problem, we hope that you may pause in reading one of the forty-two personal stories and think: “Yes, that happened to me”; or, more important, …read more

The last couple of days I’ve reprinted “How To Listen To God” written by John E. Batterson and reproduced at Barefoot Bob’s web site here. It was long enough I had to break it down into three parts. This is the last – the last few suggestions then the results.
“How To Listen To God”
Suggestions and results…
6. TEST
When the flow of thoughts slows down, stop. Take a good look at what you have written. Not every thought we have comes from God. So we need to test our thoughts. Here is where the written record helps us to be able to …read more

Yesterday I duplicated the beginnings of “How To Listen To God” written by John E. Batterson and reproduced at Barefoot Bob’s web site here. It is still my opinion it is worth it to repeat and pass it along far and wide.
“How To Listen To God”
Specific suggestions…
With the basic elements as a background, here are specific suggestions on How to Listen to God:
1. TAKE TIME
Find some place and time where you can be alone, quiet and undisturbed. Most people have found that the early morning is the best time. Have with you some paper and pen or pencil.
2. RELAX
Sit in …read more

John E. Batterson wrote this and Barefoot Bob has reproduced it at his web site here. It is simply my opinion it is worth it to repeat it and pass it along far and wide.
“How To Listen To God”
Preparations and conditions…
These are a few simple suggestions for people who are willing to make an experiment. You can discover for yourself the most important and practical thing any human being can ever learn – how to be in touch with God. All that is needed is the willingness to try it honestly. Every person who has done this consistently and sincerely …read more

After a great deal of trial and error, some manufactured, some ill conceived, some forced upon, regarding anonymity, Bill W. learned what may have been the lesson that “saved” Alcoholics Anonymous.
Subsequent to many situations involving the breaking of anonymity by AA members, Bill says (The Language of the Heart, pg. 216);
We now fully realize that 100 percent personal anonymity before the public is just as vital to the life of AA as 100 percent sobriety is to the life of each and every member. This is not the counsel of fear; it is the prudent voice of long experience. I …read more