The only intrinsic evil is lack of love.—John Robinson When we have feelings of self-hate, we have spiritual problems. It is a time to turn to our program for help. In the early stages of recovery, we may, at times, feel more shameful than we ever did before, simply because we are becoming honest aboutContinue reading “Patiently Accepting Love To Overcome Self-Hate Touchstone Reflection June 24th”
Category Archives: Compassion
Reframing Pain – From Consolations By David Whyte
I believe a fundamental of my recovery is coming to see and relate differently to my pain. I love the phrase from ‘pain killer to pain healer” as a way of describing this new relationship I can experience using the steps to see and respond differently to my pain. Much of my alcoholism has itsContinue reading “Reframing Pain – From Consolations By David Whyte”
Connections Between The Four Agreements & Recovery June 2022 By Mark S.
Recently I found myself returning to a book I had read many years ago – The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz. As I reflected on his thoughts about these “Four Agreements,” I began to see connections with our efforts to achieve and maintain sobriety. In this article, I hope to show youContinue reading “Connections Between The Four Agreements & Recovery June 2022 By Mark S.”
The Faint Ember – Grapevine Article July 1997 Bg Cathy L.
The first time I walked into an AA meeting, I had that eerie experience so many newcomers seem to have: the speakers were telling my story. Secrets and feelings I thought were uniquely mine were being revealed to a room of a hundred people. After I got over the feeling that it was all aContinue reading “The Faint Ember – Grapevine Article July 1997 Bg Cathy L.”
How To Grow In Love & Tolerance – Mini Steps From Step 10 Of Twelve & Twelve By Bruce M.
The Twelve & Twelve offers us some very specific suggestions about how to grow daily in becoming more loving and tolerant. This short paragraph from p.93 captures these,what I term, ‘mini steps’ within the major step of continuous self-examination called for in Step 10. I’ve added numbers and some annotations to this short paragraph. 1.Continue reading “How To Grow In Love & Tolerance – Mini Steps From Step 10 Of Twelve & Twelve By Bruce M.”
Our Shared Spiritual Sickness – Big Book pgs.66,67
We began to see that the world and its people really dominated us. In that state, the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, had power to actually kill. How could we escape? We saw that these resentments must be mastered, but how? We could not wish them away any more than alcohol. This was ourContinue reading “Our Shared Spiritual Sickness – Big Book pgs.66,67”
Unacceptable – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Allen B.
I stood there in line growing more and more impatient. After all, I had important things to do. I didn’t have the time to stand in line waiting for their social hour to end. My journey in recovery started in 1971. I returned from combat in Vietnam with an alcohol and drug problem. I’m gratefulContinue reading “Unacceptable – Grapevine Article October 2022 By Allen B.”
It’s What We Do – Grapevine Article May 2024 By Alex M
What all does AA give us? A member in Kentucky attempts to answer A newcomer recently asked me what AA taught me. I thought, how on earth can I possibly summarize my time in the Fellowship? First off, it taught me how to be a decent person and how to live a life inconceivablyContinue reading “It’s What We Do – Grapevine Article May 2024 By Alex M”
Reframing Awareness – Days Of Healing April 6th By Earnie Larson
“I’m a lot less hard on myself these days. I’ve realized that my demons are really angels that have gone astray.—Manny J. “Oh no! Not something else to work on!” How often we feel discouraged when we become aware of yet another self-defeating pattern in our lives. “Who needs this much awareness?” we may wonder.Continue reading “Reframing Awareness – Days Of Healing April 6th By Earnie Larson”
Receiving The Gift That Surrounds Us – Touchstone April 2nd
The universe is the primary revelation of the divine, the primary scripture, the primary focus of divine human communion. –Thomas Berry In this program we learn about being receptive. A person in search of conscious contact with a Higher Power can simply stand still and open his eyes and ears to creation. Forcing a spiritualContinue reading “Receiving The Gift That Surrounds Us – Touchstone April 2nd”