Isolation is something that I have to be watchful of. It can cause me to get into a funk, and depression is not far away when that happens. I need to practice picking up the phone more often and reaching out to others when problems arise in my life. There are new members of the program who are adjusting to changes in their living arrangements – and that’s not always an easy thing. Getting out of self is always a good thing. Too much of me, me, me can be the very thing that causes feelings of loneliness and isolation.
There are things to do when I am alone in my home – in addition to cleaning, I can have a hobby. So loneliness is really a choice for me at this stage of my life. I can choose to wallow or I can choose to get off my duff and participate in life. I am so grateful for the life I have today. I am definitely not lonely – unless I choose to be.
Read this today: I had to seek God because of the pain this world caused me. I could not believe what happened when I got there –I found my Teacher. Before I left, he said, “Up for a little homework, yet?” “Okay.” I replied. “Well then, try thanking all the people who have caused you pain. They helped you come to me.” ♥♥♥
THIS24 
Thank you Lord for this day and for all that is in it.
My times are in your hand.
My soul rests with you, my Anamchara.
Nearly all our meetings close with everyone joining hands and saying together, hopefully praying together The Lord’s Prayer. After everyone says amen there is often an outspoken declaration; “It works if you work it”.
Then in our Big Book it is declared that our spiritual life is not a theory, we have to live it.
As this way of life became my way of life some unexpected feelings of peace and serenity accompanied by abiding faith and confidence begin to be consciously realized and perhaps seen by others. This deal of spirituality is a spooky sort of thing which I’m convinced has no end point and more is revealed heretofore and probably henceforth.
Who also believes as we believe?
Lots! Yes lots.:-) http://bcove.me/1zhiaxqs 🙂
I’m Harry, grateful alcoholic. – Georgia, US of A.
I make my living out of town. So every week, Monday through Wednesday, I’m faced with what I now understand is a pretty important choice when I return home from work. Will I cave to the lie that I’m tired and need a break, languish on the sofa, watch tv, eat, do nothing, or will I put my running shoes on and get outside and get with it? The answer to that question will carry forward for the next 24 hours in my head and heart, translated into action with my mouth and my hands. I’ve come to understand the importance of those 15 critical minutes after I arrive home.
Learning to be alone well is a life’s undertaking. I’m not an island, but I sure spend a lot of time on one.
lol
Madonna and Child
Blessings This Day
Somewhere, this is someone’s first day of life; and, naturally for someone else, their last.
So it is for me, metaphysically, as well.
God’s Gift to me is my choice as to what my next thought will be, my birthright.
As a drunk, I lost that power of choice.
As a member of AA, it has been restored.
I believe He would have me help my brothers and sisters regain theirs as well.
Grateful for His Grace.
Is that the tittle to the picture? LOL…I think you’re a lil OFF…haha….
Grateful for the amazing gifts each day, first off,….sucking air ♥♥♥
Happy anniversary Kt!
Had a bit of remorse this morning after realizing I missed coming here Saturday morning. I took a job this past week away from my regular job and couldn’t will my way through it and wore myself out. I didn’t get er done and now they’ll have to wait for the next opportunity for me to finish it. Needless to say they’re were times, most of the time, I didn’t talk to God much during this construction process and I did get irritated restless and discontent. However when i surrendered i did find some peace with it all. I have much to talk to God about today(relationships). I pray you all have a blessed day.
Awesome Daniel!! Thank you for sharing that….I forget sometimes too….that’s why I make it a routine now….praypraypray….or in my case, talktalktalk…LOL…Have a wonderful SUNDAY….headed for the BEACH!!
Happy anniversary kt!
Speaking of children, I’m off for a picnic in the park with my granddaughters! Life is good!
I, too, am grateful for the gift!
Have fun Maggs!!! Xo
Thank you 3d! Your shares help me keep in recovery. Thank you thank you
Thank you Maggie, good to have your presence here. I am glad you can be w grandchildren.kt
Dear Father XXX,
I am disappointed to hear that your church is allowing Alcoholics Anonymous to hold meetings on its premises. Whilst I am sure that this was done from the best of intentions, I would suggest that an examination of the precepts of this organisation as laid out in its literature and shown by the type of witnessing known as “sharing” in its meetings is incompatible with the Christian faith as understood by Catholics, or indeed any Protestant denominations I am familiar with.
It’s bogus “spirituality” has more to do with superstition, magic and occultism than Christianity. As a matter of fact (recorded in AA’s own official biography of him, “Pass it On”) this movement’s co-founder Bill Wilson was an enthusiastic lifelong participant in séances in which he claimed to contact the spirits of the dead. AA also explicitly encourages the heresy of indifferentism, which suggests that any conception of God (euphemistically downgraded in AA to “higher power”) is as good as any other. Even the absurd notion that people can pray to things like light bulbs, doorknobs or chairs is routinely suggested in AA meetings as a step on the way to abdicating responsibility for one’s own life and trusting implicitly that Alcoholics Anonymous has all of the answers one will ever need on how to live one’s life.
You may be surprised to know that Alcoholics Anonymous has very little to say about the nature of alcohol addiction as a health problem, but has a great deal to say about the supposed importance of embracing some very strange concepts concerning the nature of God, the purpose of prayer and the notion that “spiritual diseases” exist.
These ideas are not compatible with mainstream Christianity, although they may share some features with eccentric sects like Christian Science. Alcoholics Anonymous had its origins in the 1930s in an evangelising protestant sect known as the Oxford Group, run by the Rev. Frank Buchman. This movement was highly controversial, partly because of accusations of deceptive recruiting and religious heresy (Catholics were actually banned by the Vatican from participating in it) and partly because of the notorious far-right political sympathies of its leader who openly praised Hitler.
The sacrament of Confession, familiar to me as a baptised Catholic is sacrilegiously distorted in AA so that one is encouraged to divulge one’s guiltiest secrets (supposedly with God’s blessing) to an AA “sponsor” whose only qualification to hear them is that he or she has been a drunkard. Such a person is, of course, unordained, untrained, unaccountable and not sworn to secrecy. This organisation has a morbid and sickly religiosity which is entirely its own and is not compatible with Christianity.
To anyone who is involved with it for any length of time it becomes clear that its “spirituality” is a matter of making AA itself the central authority and guide in one’s life, not God. This becomes very clear as one hears old-established members talk with undisguised contempt and disdain about the Christian religion, whilst literally giving AA writings such as the so-called “Big Book” (really called “Alcoholics Anonymous”) the same reverence and affording it the same authority as Christians would reserve for the Bible.
AA successfully misrepresents itself to the outside world as a no-strings-attached self-help and support group. In reality it is closer to being a peculiar and exclusive medico-religious cult. Despite its protestations of ecumenical religious open-mindedness, it actually requires beliefs and practices which set it quite apart from any other religion and make it a de facto religion in its own right. I know quite a lot about this organisation because in the past I had a problem with drinking too much. I am pleased to say that this is no longer an issue, but for a time I did become involved with the movement.
However, I was repelled by its heretical religiosity, its dishonesty and the obvious danger of some of its practices to the mentally ill or vulnerable. I don’t think this movement should be taken at face value, any more than should, say, the Moonies or Scientology (who also run a plausible addiction “recovery” program).
In particular, AA’s claim that there is nothing in its teachings that can possibly conflict with a person’s prior religious beliefs needs close examination. I don’t believe that claim stands up to honest scrutiny. I am not alone in having these concerns. There has for some considerable time been a growing body of criticism of AA in print and on the internet amongst ex-members, mental health professionals, researchers and members of churches about the unaccountable way this movement intrudes a skewed and loaded “spiritual” agenda into supposed help for vulnerable people.
I hope you don’t mind my airing these views. When I first heard of Alcoholics Anonymous I assumed it to be an obviously benign movement, but considerable firsthand experience of the organisation and its message has caused me to think differently.
Yours sincerely,
Prayer for the Day
I pray that God will help me to become all that He would have me be. I pray that I may face today’s problems with good grace.
Great picture, SMB, I was happy my grandson did not have to see me drinking. I was also happy I got to see h as a baby with clear eyes.kt
Beautiful picture! Now that is serenity.