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

For today – I don’t want to forget that one day at a time anything and everything can and will happen and it is not required that I develop some lame excuse to give myself permission to pick up a drink…
Therefore, for today, I am feeling not very faithful. It doesn’t help that as I write posts like this, I try to save it as I write and either my computer or the server acts as if it has a resentment towards me
Reality – I’ve been trying to get something important to me and, in turn, to my …read more

Early in sobriety I was taught that my road of life would narrow the longer I lived and stayed sober. This is a perfect example of that though only those closest to me might recognize it today.
I was actually looking for a copy of “Footprints In The Sand” this morning in order to post it for “us” as a reminder. It still is one of many God poems that help me through many days. By sheer curiosity, after I had found a copy at Barefoot Bill’s, I clicked through to something I’d never seen or known before a few minutes …read more

While Nero fiddled, the tech guys at b5 went into battle with the demons of the darkest netherworlds of technology during a most trying time for the bloggers of the b5media network.
It was during this time of emotional upset that the b5 team learned to make use of Steps 3 and 11;
3. – Let Go and Let God
11. – Praying only for knowledge of His will and the power to carry that out.
Thanks to our tech guys!!!

Now on page 567;
II – Spiritual Experience
“The terms ’spiritual experience’ and ’spiritual awakening’ are used many times in this book which upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms.”

My best friend and I were having a discussion about recovery yesterday (which we do on a daily basis). Lonnie has 11 years and is in the phase where some things he witnesses exasperate him. Understandable, to me. In this specific instance, I’ve seen it now for years. It has become “normal” to have the …read more

Who has anguish?

Who has sorrow?

Who is always fighting?

Who is always complaining?

Who has unnecessary bruises?

Who has bloodshot eyes?

Who knows where these questions come from?
The answer to the questions;

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 someone demanding a sign from God while they’re standing in the middle of a field. They dismiss a soft breeze, a butterfly and a couple of other signs because they misperceive them and leave discouraged.
I really like what …read more

I’d like to personally thank Scout for stopping by, commenting and, though you didn’t realize it, motivate my reading you and feeling as if I had something to write.
First Things First – You are not alone!
You are certainly not unique. I know you didn’t say you were. That is a point that others might need to consider within this context.
I can appreciate the feeling for compassion being offered. It is a better way to be, usually. Yet, there are times when offering compassion has the ability to kill. Doesn’t make sense, does it?
Back to what motivated me…

Which means that I am still powerless over someone else’s alcoholism.
Related to today’s earlier entry;
“A New Man”
“I tried to help this man. It was a humiliating experience. No one enjoys being a complete failure; it plays havoc with the ego. Nothing seemed to work. I brought him to meetings, and he sat there in a fog, and I knew that only the body was present. I went to his home, and either he was out drinking or he sailed out the back door as I entered the front one. His family was beginning to enter a period of real hardship; …read more

Here is “The ABC’s I”
From “How It Works” pg. 60;
“Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
c) That God could and would if He were sought.”
There is an area where I was once as passionate as any newcomer to comply with “principles” and never waver from what I was told. It was a difficult lesson to learn that I was powerless over people, places and …read more