July 2008

“We never apologize to anyone
for depending upon our Creator.
We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness.
Paradoxically, it is the way of strength.
The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage.
All men of faith have courage.
They trust their God.  We never apologize for God.
Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us,
what He can do.
We ask Him to remove our fear and direct
our attention to what He would have us be.
At once, we commence to outgrow fear.”
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 68
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

The peaks and valleys of my life
have become gentle rolling hills.

AACRONYMS
S O B E RÂ =Â Son Of a Basket, Everything’s Real

Just For Today!

Spirit of Service
Tradition Nine: A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
A.A. has to function, but at the same time it must avoid those dangers of great wealth, prestige, and entrenched power which necessarily tempt other societies. Though Tradition Nine at first sight seems to deal with a purely practical matter, in its actual operation it discloses a society without organization, animated only by the spirit of service - a true fellowship.

1981, AAWS, Inc., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 175

Daily Reflections
ANONYMOUS GIFTS OF KINDNESS

As active alcoholics we were always looking for a handout
in one way or another.

“THE TWELVE TRADITIONS ILLUSTRATED,” p. 14

The challenge of the Seventh Tradition is a personal challenge, reminding me to share and give of myself.  Before sobriety the only thing I ever
supported was my habit of drinking.  Now my efforts are a smile, a kind
word, and kindness.

I saw that I had to start carrying my own weight and allow my new friends to
walk with me because, through the practice of the Twelve Steps and Twelve
Traditions, I’ve never had it so good.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
As Bill Sees It
Out of Bondage

At Step Three, many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: “God, I
offer myself to Thee - to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away
my difficulties, that my transcendence over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy power, Thy love, and Thy way of life. May I do Thy will
always!”
We thought well before taking this Step, making sure we were ready. Then we could commence to abandon ourselves utterly to Him.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 63

We thought “conditions” drove us to drink, and when we tried to correct
these conditions and found that we couldn’t do so to our entire satisfaction,
our drinking went out of hand and we became alcoholics. It never occurred to us that we needed to change ourselves to meet conditions, whatever they were.

12×12 p. 47
Big Book Quote

“Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to
Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give
freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the
Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you
trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 164
~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^~*
AA Thought for the Day

There are two days in every week about which we should not
worry, two days that should be kept from fear and
apprehension. One of these days is yesterday, with its
mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and
pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All
the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We
cannot undo a single act we performed. We cannot erase a
single word we said. Yesterday is gone beyond recall. Do I
still worry about what happened yesterday?

Meditation for the Day

“God will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are
able, but with the temptation He will also find a way of
escape, that you may be able to bear it.” If you have enough
faith and trust in God, He will give you all the strength you
need to face every temptation and to overcome it. Nothing
will prove too hard for you to bear. You can face any
situation. “Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”
You can overcome any temptation with God’s help. So fear
nothing.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may face every situation without fear. I pray
that nothing will prove too hard for me to bear.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

“The AA way of life is the way we always
should have tried to live.
‘Grant us the serenity to accept the things
we cannot change,
courage to change the things we can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.’
These thoughts become part of our daily lives.
They are not ideas of resignation
but of the recognition of certain
basic facts of living.”
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 382-3

Thought to Consider . . .

Every day is a gift.
That is why we call it the present.

AACRONYMS
B E S TÂ =Â Been Enjoying Sobriety Today?

Just For Today!

Progress

From “A Glacier Melts”:

“A.A. provided for me a means by which I could overcome the compulsion to drink and, more important, a means by which I could achieve a personality change or spiritual awakening— a surrender to life. Though I have had problems and deep troubles since that summer ten years ago, my faith has not been shaken. I cannot say that I have found God as I understand Him, but rather that I have faith in Something which remains a mystery to me and which I continue to seek. - Fresno, California, USA”

1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 59

Daily Reflections
GIVING FREELY

We will make every personal sacrifice necessary to insure the unity of Alcoholics Anonymous. We will do this because we have learned to love God and one another.

A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 234

To be self-supporting through my own contributions was never a strong characteristic during my days as a practicing alcoholic. The giving of time or money always demanded a price tag.

As a newcomer I was told “we have to give it away in order to keep it.” As I began to adopt the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous in my life, I soon found it was a privilege to give to the Fellowship as an expression of the gratitude I felt in my heart. My love of God and of others became the motivating factor in my life, with no thought of return. I realize now that giving freely is God’s way of expressing Himself through me.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
As Bill Sees It
Reason - a Bridge to Faith

We were squarely confronted with the question of faith. We couldn’t duck the issue. Some of us had already walked along the bridge of reason toward the desired shore of faith, where friendly hands stretched out in welcome. We were grateful that reason had brought us so far. But, somehow, we couldn’t quite step ashore. Perhaps we had been relying too heavily on reason that last mile, and we did not like to lose our support.
Yet, without knowing it, had we not been brought to where we stood by a
certain kind of faith? For did we not believe in our own reasoning? Did we
not have confidence in our ability to think? What was that but a sort of
faith? Yes, we had been faithful, abjectly faithful to the god of reason. So,
in one way or another, we discovered that faith had been involved all the
time!

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 53-54
Big Book Quote
“Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn’t be shy
on this matter of prayer. Better men than we are using it constantly.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 85

Twenty Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought for the Day

To paraphrase the psalm: “We alcoholics declare the power of
liquor and drunkenness showeth its handiwork. Day unto day
uttereth hangovers and night unto night showeth suffering.
The law of A.A. is perfect, converting the drunk. The
testimony of A.A. is sure, making wise the simple. The
statutes of A.A. are right, rejoicing the heart. The program
of A.A. is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the first
drink is clean, enduring forever.” Have I any doubt about the
power of liquor?

Meditation for the Day

“Walk humbly with thy Lord.” Walking with God means practicing
the presence of God in your daily affairs. It means asking God
for strength to face each new day. It means turning to Him
often during the day in prayer for yourself and for other
people. It means thanking Him at night for the blessings you
have received during the day. Nothing can seriously upset you
if you are “walking with God.” You can believe that He is
beside you in spirit, to help you and to guide you on your
way.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may try to walk humbly with God. I pray that I
may turn to Him often as to a close friend.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

“When asked, ‘Are there any conditions?’
we joyfully reply, ‘No, not a one.’
When skeptically he comes back saying,
‘But certainly there must be things
that I have to do and believe,’ we quickly answer,
‘In Alcoholics Anonymous there are no musts.’
Cynically, perhaps, he then inquires,
‘What is all this going to cost me?’
We are able to laugh and say,
‘Nothing at all, there are no fees and dues.’
Thus, in a brief hour, is our friend disarmed
of his suspicion and rebellion . . .
Alcoholics Anonymous is saying,
‘We have something precious to give,
if only you will receive.’
That is all.”
Bill W., February 1948
1988AAGrapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 79

Thought to Consider . . .

Sobriety is a gift, not a right

AACRONYMS
G I F T SÂ =Â Getting It From The Steps

Just For Today!

Stories

From “The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous”:

“We had not gone much farther with the text of the book when it was evident that something more was needed. There would have to be a story or case history section. We would have to produce evidence in the form of living proof, written testimonials of our membership itself. It was felt also that the story section could identify us with the distant reader in a way that the text itself might not. At this point Dr. Bob and the Akronites played a vital role. The Akron group was the larger and had more case history material, and the means of putting it into story form now appeared. Two years earlier a former newspaperman, Jim S., had been lifted off skid row and nursed back to health and sobriety. Jim and Dr. Bob went after all the Akronites who had substantial sobriety records for testimonial material. In most cases Jim interviewed the prospects and wrote their stories for them. Dr. Bob wrote his own. By January the Akronites had produced eighteen fine stories.”

2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 164

Daily Reflections
THE “WORTH” OF SOBRIETY

Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONSÂ p. 160

When I go shopping I look at the prices and if I need what I see, buy it and pay. Now that I am supposed to be in rehabilitation, I have to straighten out my life. When I go to a meeting, I take a coffee with sugar and milk, sometimes more than one. But at the collection time, I am either too busy to take money out of my purse, or I do not have enough, but I am there because I need this meeting. I heard someone suggest dropping the price of a beer into the basket, and I thought, that’s too much! I almost never give one dollar. Like many others, I rely on the more generous members to finance the Fellowship. I forget that it takes money to rent the meeting room, buy my milk, sugar and cups. I will pay, without hesitation, ninety cents for a cup of coffee at a restaurant after the meeting; I always have money for that. So, how much is my sobriety and my inner peace worth?
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
As Bill Sees It
The Fellowship’s Future

“It seems proved that A.A. can stand on its own feet anywhere and under any conditions. It has outgrown any dependence it might once have had upon the personalities or efforts of a few of the older members like me. New, able, and vigorous people keep coming to the surface, turning up where they are needed. Besides, A.A. has reached enough spiritual maturity to know that its final dependence is upon God.”
<<<>>>
Clearly, our first duty to A.A.’s future is to maintain in full strength what
we now have. Only the most vigilant caretaking can assure this. Never should we be lulled into complacent self-satisfaction by the wide acclaim and success that are everywhere ours. This is the subtle temptation which could render us stagnant today, perchance disintegrate us tomorrow. We have always rallied to meet and transcend failure and crisis. Problems have been our stimulants. How well, though, shall we be able to meet the problems of success?

1. LETTER, 1940 - 2. A.A. TODAY, p. 106
Big Book Quote
“We think it no concern of ours what religious bodies our members
identify themselves with as individuals. This should be an entirely
personal affair which each one decides for himself in the light of
past associations, or his present choice.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 28
Twenty Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought for the Day

When we come to the end of our lives on earth, we will
take no material thing with us. We will not take one cent
in our cold, dead hands. The only things that we may take
are the things we have given away If we have helped others,
we may take that with us; if we have given of our time and
money for the good of A.A., we may take that with us.
Looking back over our lives, what are we proud of? Not
what we have gained for ourselves, but what few good deeds
we have done. Those are the things that really matter in
the long run. What will I take with me when I go?

Meditation for the Day

“Hallowed be Thy Name.” What does that mean to us? Here “name”
is used in the sense of “spirit.” The words mean praise to God
for His spirit in the world, making us better. We should be
especially grateful for God’s spirit, which gives us the
strength to overcome all that is base in our lives. His spirit
is powerful. It can help us to live a conquering, abundant
life. So we praise and thank Him for His spirit in our lives
and in the lives of others.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be grateful for God’s spirit in me. I pray
that I may try to live in accordance with it.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

“We die to live.
That is a beautiful paradox straight out of the Biblical idea of being “born again” or “in losing one’s life to find it.”
When we work at our Twelve Steps,
the old life of guzzling and fuzzy thinking,
and all that goes with it, gradually dies,
and we acquire a different and a better way of life.
As our shortcomings are removed, one life of us dies,
and another life of us lives.
We in AA die to live.”
1955AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, 2nd edition., pp. 341-2

Thought to Consider . . .

Life didn’t end when I got sober — it started.

AACRONYMS
T H I N KÂ =Â The Happiness I Never Knew

^Just For Today!^

Accept My Humanness

From: “A Nourishing Ingredient

Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity.

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 74

How often do I focus on my problems and frustrations? When I am having a “good day” these same problems shrink in importance and my preoccupation with them dwindles. Wouldn’t it be better if I could find a key to unlock the “magic” of my “good days” for use on the woes of my “bad days”?

I already have the solution! Instead of trying to run away from my pain and wish my problems away, I can pray for humility! Humility will heal the pain. Humility will take me out of myself. Humility, that strength granted to me by that “power greater than myself,” is mine for the asking! Humility will bring balance back into my life. Humility will allow me to accept my humanness joyously.

1990, AAWS, Inc., Daily Reflections, page 204

^Daily Reflections^
THOSE WHO STILL SUFFER

For us, if we neglect those who are still sick, there is unremitting danger to our own lives and sanity.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 151

I know the torment of drinking compulsively to quiet my nerves and my fears. I also know the pain of white-knuckled sobriety. Today, I do not forget the unknown person who suffers quietly, withdrawn and hiding in the desperate relief of drinking. I ask my Higher Power to give me His guidance and the courage to be willing to be His instrument to carry within me compassion and unselfish actions. Let the group continue to give me the strength to do with others what I cannot do alone.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
^As Bill Sees It^
Praying for Others

While praying sincerely, we still may fall into temptation. We form ideas as to what we think God’s will is for other people. We say to ourselves, “This one ought to be cured of his fatal malady” or “That one ought to be relieved of his emotional pain,” and we pray for these specific things.
Such prayers, of course, are fundamentally good acts, but often they are
based upon a supposition that we know God’s will for the person for whom we pray. This means that side by side with an earnest prayer there can be a certain amount of presumption and conceit in us.
It is A.A.’s experience that particularly in these cases we ought to pray
that God’s will, whatever it is, be done for others as well as for ourselves.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 104
^ Big Book Quote ^
“On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We
consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to
direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-
pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. Under these conditions we
can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God
gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be placed on a much
higher plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives.”

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 86
^Twenty Four Hours A Day^
A.A. Thought for the Day

We are living on borrowed time. We are living today because of A.A. and the grace of God. And what there is left of our lives we owe to A.A. and to God. We should make the best use we can of our borrowed time and in some small measure pay back for that part of our lives which we wasted before we came into A.A. Our lives from now on are not our own. We hold them in trust for God and A.A. And we must do all we can to forward the great movement that has given us a new lease on life. Am I holding my life in trust for AA.?

Meditation for the Day

You should hold your life in trust for God. Think deeply on what that means. Is anything too much to expect from such a life? Do you begin to see how dedicated a life in trust for God can be? In such a life miracles can happen. if you are faithful, you can believe that God has many good things in store for you. God can be Lord of your life, controller of your days, of your present and your future. Try to act as God guides and leave all results to Him. Do not hold back, but go all out for God and the better life. Make good your trust.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may hold my life in trust for God. I pray that I may no longer
consider my life as all my own.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012