The Deadliest Battle

Yes the hardest battle. That is the one that a person with an addictive personality, or actually all people Have. And that is the one has inside oneself. The one where you argue with yourself, you know the committee. The one that tells you. That it is okay to have just one. Or the thought that you can get away with it, this one time. Whether it be using, drinking, stealing, cheating ETC... You know those secret battles we have with ourselves. No matter how much time you have. Whenever things get a little tight, stressed or a little great even. It’s that committee always in the background. For us in recovery, that is where the relapse starts. If we succumb to those thoughts, then they just snowball> It may not even be immediate it may lie in wait for days, months even years. That’s what we talk about when we say our disease is always waiting. It’s out there in the parking lot right now doing push-ups. Just staying in shape, so if and when I open the door and give it a chance it cam pounce in full strength, to take me down. That is why we must be ever vigilant. I never want to put my friends and family through the hell that I am capable of dragging them when I’m actively drinking/using. Or myself for that matter
Remember God does not create garbage.

Veterans Day// Rememberance Day

Oh yes the day of remembering. Our Forefathers who put their lives on the line for our way of life. It has come to the time when there are not many left who remember those days. Yet we must honour those who died, were injured and the lucky ones who made it home. As recovering alcoholics/Addicts there is even more that we should take time to look back and be grateful. Like Those back before the program. The town drunks, the Addicts who were despised all those that were committed to asylums. And those that didn’t make it to the rooms and died horrible lonely deaths. All the ones that refused to do the work, or those who just didn’t get it. All the ones who went back out and died horrible lonely deaths. All the families, friends that had to watch as their friends and loved ones succumb to the pains and debauchery of alcoholism and addiction. All the ones on the street today tormented the families and friends suffering today. All the lost souls in the streets today. But for the grace of God. There go I. We have a lot to be remembering and to be thankful for. Today we are the lucky ones. Today we are the blessed.
Remember God does not make garbage

Being Real

What exactly does being real mean? That is an excellent question. First off to be real, one must truly know themselves. And to be totally honest how many of us really know who we are? We have an idea of who we think we are. We have gotten a glimpse at ourselves from our step work. We have a perception of what we think we are supposed to be. We have a perception of what are roles in life are and we let them sometimes define us. Many of us are guilty of talking one life, yet living another. Then we blame it on – well I have to work, or I have to keep my job, I have to feed my family, this is real life. And so on and so on. However the truth is we are what we are. Do we really know and accept that or do we still blame the way we are on society, the need to support our families ETC... I mean you know things about you. However can you define who you are as a person? Another part of this is truly knowing your own personal value system. We all have one. Most of us know what values are and we usually say that family, honesty, integrity, sense of self, charitable, are the ones that are usually on the top of the list. However when hard times and hard situations happen. What do we do?? These are the true values. Sometimes you have a person that says family is number one, yet the when times are hard or slightly stressed and you need to work late all week and miss seeing the kids or going to family functions. We excuse it with well I have to financially take care of my family. When probably the money made was for extras that we wanted in our lives. Rather than just put food in the fridge and a roof overhead. So what is the true value? Another obstacle to being real IMAGE> especially in today’s culture. How would it look? Rather than being true to you, we are more concerned in what others would say. We always say beauty is on the inside and that’s what counts. Yet how many of us really live this. We are too concerned on how we look, the clothes we wear, the toys we have.
Just something to ponder.
How real are you?
Remember God does not make Garbage

Powerless ????

Today I am Not Powerless! If I take that first drink or drug, I will again become powerless. However I have done what The 12 step program has laid out for me to do> I have done the 12 step program and continue to follow the program and the steps. Therefore I am no longer powerless, and neither are YOU. If you have followed the program, done the 12 steps, continue to follow the principles and steps. You are and I are both empowered to achieve the unimaginable. You are fully empowered to achieve anything. As long as you follow the principles, do what’s right and what is right in front of you. You can achieve anything you can imagine and even that which you can’t imagine. As long as it is God’s will. For your God will give you all the strength and power you require to achieve anything. This does not mean that it will not be difficult. Or that there will not be trials, tribulations and obstacles. However if you are following the principles, doing what is right, having faith and doing God’s will he will give you the strength, power and anything needed to accomplish his will. So align your will with that of the God of your understanding. And anything will be achieved.
Remember God does not create garbage

Live Life

The Message not the Messenger

Never judge a book by its cover. You may miss the message. In essence always listen when someone speaks in a meeting. Even if you can’t stand the person. Sometimes even more then. Even if you know the person and you think they have no morals and/or principles. Even if they are a chronic relapse. Surprisingly these people can have the most profound messages of all. Just because they don’t seem to follow it or their words smack of hypocrisy. Does not mean the message is not sound. They may be saying what they need to learn. Or they might be saying what they can’t seem to get. Possibly God may be using them to send you a message. Always listen to the message. Not the messenger. I you were dying of thirst, desperately needing some water to quench your thirst and revive you. Would you care about the vessel it came in? Would you throw the life giving substance away if the cup were dirty, or came in a leaf? Also remember that this person may not be who or where you think they should be> However who died and made you God. This person may be an example of what and who you would like to be viewed as or who and what you would not like to be viewed as. Remember everyone has a message. Also remember that you do not live in this persons head/ skin, you do not know their life. There may be reasons not known to you the compels the actions and behaviours they have. Again who are you to judge? Judge not less thee be judged. Remember the part of the Lord’s Prayer “forgive us are trespass’s as we forgive those that have trespassed against us” Also interpreted “judge us as we have judged others”. Also might remember that you are not perfect, and how long ago was it when others regarded you the same way or worse. Remember always “But for the Grace of God”.
Remember God does not create garbage

Time

I know I’ve touched on it before. We’ve gone over allot of stuff here. I don’t expect you all to get it all down and be perfect. Again Acceptance, basically that you will occasionally fall short of the standards you set forth for yourself. That’s ok; you’re right where you are supposed to be. Yes I hated that one too. Some of the things we’ve gone over are actually quite difficult to completely comprehend and accept. Much less be able to put into daily life. This is where time comes in; there is no better teacher than time. You may have gotten the understanding to a degree. Yes a degree, as knowledge is part of understanding. For true understanding will take experience and only time can bring experience. With time and experience will come wisdom and wisdom will give a deeper understanding, or more precisely a knowing. You can have all the text book knowledge and learning that you can get. However you will only have partial understanding and partial knowledge. Time and experience completes the understanding and fulfils the knowledge thus creating wisdom. Without the experience it is only a partial knowledge. There is no way to avoid the aspect of time. With time comes experience and wisdom. There is no shortcut. So be easy on yourself.
Remember God does not create Garbage

Service

We have talked of acceptance. This is all good and helpful. However acceptance is hard to achieve without true faith. The kind of faith spoken about earlier. Now is the time to expand on that faith, in our belief in our God. For True faith in God and a true spiritual path has but one goal. Service. Being 0totally selfless. Only working towards the fulfillment of God’s will for us. Truly spiritual and God driven life has but one goal. Service to God and others. Forgetting oneself. To be a leader of men, one must serve. When those you would lead know that you would not ask of them what you, yourself would not do. They will follow. It is through the grace of God and that we find peace and serenity. It is through the searching of God’s will for us that we become selfless and filled with spirit. It is through service that we lose ourselves and find God as well as true peace and serenity. Life is no longer a bitter taste in thy mouth. But a blessed nectar. With faith this is possible. Faith and service makes the world feel right, it brings the awareness of the divine principle which instils the feeling of unity, purpose and feeling of everything is right with the world and that anything is truly possible. The elation of righteousness,
Remember God does not create garbage

"One Day at a Time" by Father Joseph C. Martin