DAILY PONDERABLES Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny Daily Reflections OPENING UP TO CHANGE Self-searching is the means by which we bring new vision, action, and grace to bear upon the dark and negative side of our natures. With it comes the development of that kind of humility that makes it possible for us to receive God's help. . . . we find that bit by bit we can discard the old life---the one that did not work---for a new life that can and does work under any conditions whatever. AS BILL SEES IT, pp. 10, 8 I have been given a daily reprieve contingent upon my spiritual condition, provided I seek progress, not perfection. To become ready to change, I practice willingness, opening myself to possibilities of change. If I realize there are defects that hinder my usefulness in A.A. and toward others, I become ready by meditating and receiving direction. "Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely" (Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 58). To let go and let God, I need only surrender my old ways to Him; I no longer fight nor do I try to control, but simply believe that, with God's help, I am changed and affirming this belief makes me ready. I empty myself to be full of awareness, light, and love, and am ready to face each day with hope. From the book Daily Reflections © Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Twenty-Four Hours A Day A.A. Thought for the Day Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic. We always get worse, never better. We are never cured. Our alcoholism can only be arrested. No matter how long we have been sober, if we try liquor again, we're as bad or worse than we ever were. There is no exception to this rule in the whole history of A.A. We can never recapture the good times of the past. They are gone forever. Will I try to recapture them? Meditation for the Day Your life has been given to you mainly for the purpose of training your soul. This life we live is not so much for the body as for the soul. We often choose the way of life that best suits the body, not the way that best suits the soul. God wants you to choose what suits the soul as well as the body. Accept this belief and a wonderful molding of character is the result. Reject it and God's purpose for your life is frustrated, and your spiritual progress is delayed. Your soul is being trained by the good you choose. Thus the purpose of your life is being accomplished. Prayer for the Day I pray that I may choose what is good for my soul. I pray that I may realize God's purpose for my life. From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day © Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation NA - Just for Today The only requirement Page 166 "This program offers hope. All you have to bring with you is the desire to stop using and the willingness to try this new way of life." IP No. 16, For the Newcomer From time to time we wonder if we're "doing it right" in Narcotics Anonymous. Are we attending enough meetings? Are we using our sponsor, or working the steps, or speaking, or reading, or living the "right" way? We value the fellowship of recovering addicts - we don't know what we'd do without it. What if the way we're practicing our program is "wrong"? Does that make us "bad" NA members? We can settle our insecurities by reviewing our Third tradition, which assures us that "the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using." There aren't any rules that say we've got to attend this many meetings or these particular meetings, or work the "steps" this way at this pace, or live our lives to suit these people in order to remain NA members in good standing. It's true that, if we want the kind of recovery we see in members we respect, we'll want to practice the kind of program that's made their recovery possible. But NA is a fellowship of freedom; we work the program the best way for us, not for someone else. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using. Just for Today: I will look t the program I'm working in light of my own recovery. I will practice that program to the best of my ability. From the book Just for Today © Copyright 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Thought for Today "Learn to pause ... or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you." --Doug King PRAYERS FOR ALL TWELVE STEPS FIRST STEP PRAYER Dear Lord, I admit that I am powerless over my addiction. I admit that my life is unmanageable when I try to control it. Help me this day to understand the true meaning of powerlessness. Remove from me all denial of my addiction. SECOND STEP PRAYER Heavenly Father, I know in my heart that only You can restore me to sanity. I humbly ask that You remove all twisted thought and addictive behavior from me this day. Heal my spirit and restore in me a clear mind. THIRD STEP PRAYER God, I offer myself to Thee--to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory 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. FOURTH STEP PRAYER Dear God, it is I who has made my life a mess. I have done it, but I cannot undo it. My mistakes are mine and I will begin a searching and fearless moral inventory. I will write down my wrongs. But I will also include that which is good. I pray for the strength to complete this task. FIFTH STEP PRAYER Higher Power, my inventory has shown me who I am, yet I ask for Your help in admitting my wrongs to another person and to You. Assure me and be with me, in this Step, for without this Step, I cannot progress in my recovery. With Your help, I can do this, and I will do it. SIXTH STEP PRAYER Dear God, I am ready for Your help in removing from me the defects of character, which I now realize, are an obstacle to my recovery. Help me to continue being honest with myself and guide me toward mental and spiritual health. SEVENTH STEP PRAYER My Creator, I am now willing that You have all of me, good and bad. I pray that You now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to You and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do Your bidding. EIGHTH STEP PRAYER Higher Power, I ask Your help in making my list of all those I have harmed. I will take responsibility for my mistakes and be forgiving to others, as You are forgiving to me. Grant me the willingness to begin my restitution. This I pray. NINTH STEP PRAYER Higher Power, I pray for the right attitude to make my amends, being ever mindful not to harm others in the process. I ask for Your guidance in making indirect amends by staying abstinent, helping others and growing in spiritual progress. TENTH STEP PRAYER Dear God, I pray I may continue to grow in understanding and effectiveness; to take daily spot check inventories of myself; to correct mistakes when I make them; to take responsibility for my actions; to be ever aware of my negative and self-defeating attitudes and behaviors; to keep my willfulness in check; to always remember I need Your help; to keep love and tolerance of others as my code; and to continue in daily prayer how I can best serve You. ELEVENTH STEP PRAYER God, as I understand You, I pray to keep my connection with You. Open and clear from me the confusion of daily life. Through my prayers and meditations I ask especially for freedom from self-will, rationalization, and wishful thinking. I pray for the guidance of correct thought and positive action. Your will, not mine, be done. TWELFTH STEP PRAYER Dear God, my spiritual awakening continues to unfold. With the help I have received I shall have the opportunity to grow. I am grateful. I pray most humbly to continue walking day by day, practice the principles of this way of life in all I do and say. I need You, my friends, and the program every hour of every day. This is a better way to live. Buddha/Zen Thoughts When the mind exists undisturbed in the Way, there is no objection to anything in the world; and when there is no objection to anything, things cease to be—in the old way. When no discriminating attachment arises, the old mind ceases to exist. Let go of things as separate existences and mind too vanishes. Likewise when the thinking subject vanishes so too do the objects created by mind. Native American "So we are connected to the moon. That gives us power, a connection to the earth and the moon, men don't know about." --Cecilia Mitchell, MOHAWK The Elders tell us that the Woman has access to special powers. The Earth Mother gives her love in a special way to the Woman. The Moon also gives special powers to the Woman. She uses these powers to nurture, heal and guide the people. Great Spirit, today, give a special Blessing to our Women. Keep It Simple It's not enough to talk to plants, you also have to listen.    --- David Bergman Sometimes, we find ourselves doing all the talking. When this happens, we need to stop, think, and listen. When we do all the talking, we're trying to control what happens. But when we listen, we get better results. No one has to be in control. What a relief! And we're learning to listen better every day. It's great---the care, love, and help we find---just by listening. Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me learn the "give-and-take" of talking and listening. Action for the Day: Today, I'll focus on listening, not only to other people but to my Higher Power's voice. Big Book Chapter 7    Working With Others (pg 92 & top 93) If you are satisfied that he is a real alcoholic, begin to dwell on the hopeless feature of the malady. Show him, from your own experience, how the queer mental condition surrounding that first drink prevents normal functioning of the will power. Don’t, at this stage, refer to this book, unless he has seen it and wishes to discuss it. And be careful not to brand him as an alcoholic. Let him draw his own conclusion. If he sticks to the idea that he can still control his drinking, tell him that possibly he can-if he is not too alcoholic. But insist that if he is severely afflicted, there may be little chance he can recover by himself. Continue to speak of alcoholism as an illness, a fatal malady. Talk about the conditions of body and mind which accompany it. Keep his attention focused mainly on your personal experience. Explain that many are doomed who never realize their predicament. Doctors are rightly loath to tell alcoholic patients the whole story unless it will serve some good purpose. But you may talk to him about the hopelessness of alcoholism because you offer a solution. You will soon have you friend admitting he has many, if not all, of the traits of the alcoholic. If his own doctor is willing to tell him that he is alcoholic, so much the better. Even though your protege may not have entirely admitted his condition, he has become very curious to know how you got well. Let him ask you that question, if he will. Tell him exactly what happened to you. Stress the spiritual feature freely. If the man be agnostic or atheist, make it emphatic that he does not have to agree with your conception of God. He can choose any conception he likes, provided it makes sense to him. The main thing is that he be willing to believe in a Power greater than himself and that he live by spiritual principles.