We are only operating a spiritual kindergarten in which people are enabled to get over drinking and find the grace to go on living to better effect. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 95 When I came to A.A., I was run down by the bottle and wanted to lose the obsession to drink, but IContinue reading “A Spiritual Kindergarten – Daily Reflections June 24th”
Category Archives: Step 2
Anxiety/Tension—All Bad? – Grapevine Article March 1969 By J.C.
An AA suggests that stress reminds us to plunge deeper into the program NO, SERENITY doesn’t mean a lack of any stress or tension. It means, instead, the inner security that enables us to bear these stresses and to use them as occasions for growth. I need not fear or shun anxiety, because there isContinue reading “Anxiety/Tension—All Bad? – Grapevine Article March 1969 By J.C.”
The Coming Of Faith – As Bill Sees It #51
In my own case, the foundation stone of freedom from fear is that of faith: a faith that, despite all worldly appearances to the contrary, causes me to believe that I live in a universe that makes sense. To me, this means a belief in a Creator who is all power, justice, and love; aContinue reading “The Coming Of Faith – As Bill Sees It #51”
At The Jumping-Off Point – Grapevine Article By S.W.
It wasn’t until he started putting his shoes under the bed that he came to believe I behaved my way into believing. When I came through the doors of my first AA meeting, I was desperate. I had already picked out a bridge abutment that I wanted to smash my car into. The hope wasContinue reading “At The Jumping-Off Point – Grapevine Article By S.W.”
Restore Us To Sanity – As Bill Sees It #141
Few indeed are the practicing alcoholics who have any idea how irrational they are, or, seeing their irrationality, can bear to face it. For example, some will be willing to term themselves “problem drinkers,” but cannot endure the suggestion that they are in fact mentally ill. They are abetted in this blindness by a worldContinue reading “Restore Us To Sanity – As Bill Sees It #141”
Living With Hope – Reflection By Henri Nouwen With An Anonymous Mediation
I think this reflection and the meditation that follows captures how powerful the principle of hope can be when we’re facing life’s PUH’s …the pain,uncertainty and hard work that Phil Stutz describes in this article. I love the distinctions Henri makes between optimism and hope … which, to me, is very consistent with the realityContinue reading “Living With Hope – Reflection By Henri Nouwen With An Anonymous Mediation”
A New-Found Providence – As Bill Sees It #328
When dealing with a prospect of agnostic or atheistic bent, you had better use everyday language to describe spiritual principles. There is no use arousing any prejudice he may have against certain theological terms and conceptions, about which he may already be confused. Don’t raise such issues, no matter what your own convictions are. ‹‹Continue reading “A New-Found Providence – As Bill Sees It #328”
False Pride & Self Centered Fear – Experience The Big Book By Dr. Michael H.
Clancy I., in one of his talks, stated that false pride is a killer for alcoholics. He defined false pride as a compensation for feeling “less than”. That statement defined my life. From early childhood, I was constantly seeking approval through actions or achievements. Just being “Michael” wasn’t good enough. I never felt OK.Continue reading “False Pride & Self Centered Fear – Experience The Big Book By Dr. Michael H.”
Shame And The Meaning Of Being Human – Shame & Guilt By Ernest Kurtz
AA teaches that there is a wholeness in limitation. This understanding echoes an ancient tradition of wisdom, which saw being human as being caught in the middle, containing a contradiction. To be human, according to this tradition, means to sustain the tension of always being pulled in two opposite directions: to be more than humanContinue reading “Shame And The Meaning Of Being Human – Shame & Guilt By Ernest Kurtz”
Perception – Any Way You Slice It – Grapevine Article January 2024 By Claire S.
When I was about 6 years old, I distinctly remember placing my sandwich order with my mom and specifically asking for the jelly to be on the bottom and peanut butter on the top. While I closely supervised her preparation, I was horrified to see she hadn’t followed my directions, not even a little, andContinue reading “Perception – Any Way You Slice It – Grapevine Article January 2024 By Claire S.”