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DonInLondon January 6 2008



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January 6 2008

DonInLondon - ‘Day In the Life’ Spiritual Life Is Not Theory

As Time Goes By

This day has been better than I might have imagined. Some healing, some understanding and some mending. As I can be crestfallen by events, so can others. And often we forget that we all try to do our best. And even when we think and feel it is the best we can be, we can still make mistakes and get the wrong end of an argument.

Mea Culpa

I have no idea why something bothered me so much as the intention was really good and to the good of me. A friend of mine was party to a conversation and my name came up, and the inference as I understand it was me being condemned without investigation of my blog and my words, videos or recovery.

Oscar Wilde

'There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about’

Although there is ego in this quote, it helps me laugh at myself and try to realise what I may do. The answer is nothing, simply not everyone, or anyone might agree with me and what I endeavour. And it is acceptance which helps me understand that if we do share anything there will be those for, against and most likely many simply indifferent and happy in their lives.

So Why A Sore Head Over Others?

I guess when we do share anything which is simply opinion, it can be argued over, dismissed and generally it can be ridiculed or worthy of comment to the good. After all we get nowhere if we sit and stew, if we sit and ponder too long and don’t get to the action of life and living.

Spiritual Life

Is no different in essence to just life and living. It is however maybe the context and the texture of living as we develop an attitude to the good and behave in ways consistent with our inner beliefs.

Spiritual is not Simple

Indeed we are complicated people, living in the day hopefully rather than stuck in some past, or worse waiting for the future which often never happens as we might wish.

Spiritual Living is Now

Spiritual is seeing the truth, seeing our part in what is happening, how we work with what is, the truth and the way we can choose to make of the day what we will. Its not about giving up or giving in, its about what can be done today.

God - Good Conscience - Good - Truth

As we live we learn what we may of this one and only spiritual connection which matters, right here and now. Whatever nature has given us and Providence has equipped us with, then we have free will and freedom to choose what we may do.

Balance In All Matters

Our understanding of God, or no understanding of God is a personal issue, yet we still have and I hope a moral code which leads to good, good conscience and the truth of now. We can find our happy balance in all this and it is never about exerting our views on others. It is what we come to understand that really matters in our lives today.

When we try our hardest and still find it hard to achieve what we set out to do, it is simply the journey, the endeavour, the progress we make. And we can never be perfect it seems to me and most people I know. We do our best and in the endeavour is the joy of moving ourselves along as far as we may.

Sorrow and Sadness

Is a part of our living. We learn to love, how not to love, how to do what we may. And we learn the lessons of life if we are open to change, and to our attitudes altered as time and endeavour is done.

Not One Way

There is no one way in this life, what suits us may not suit others. And in finding acceptance we know we do our best as others do a day at a time.

I need not be harsh nor others be harsh with me when we live and work to sound principles and best ways to live. The differences are not that great, the similarities and pattern we humans are, is far greater that nature made so. Difference man made, not helpful I feel as times show us the folly of where our human madness can go.

A spiritual Path is as we can make it, not perfect and ever changing as we learn. And the truth of life spiritual is right here and now for me. As I learn I share. And as others learn they share. We need heed all we can and make the best of each day often so simple in a very complicated way.

Mankind is Not Capable of the Absolute Truth - A Mere Fantasy of Minds In Denial. Let Go, Move On Learn as Time Affords and Our Wits Enable




Daily Reflections [AA Daily Reflections On the Web]

THE VICTORY OF SURRENDER

We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward liberation and strength. Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 21

When alcohol influenced every facet of my life, when bottles became the symbol of all my self-indulgence and permissiveness, when I came to realize that, by myself, I could do nothing to overcome the power of alcohol, I realized I had no recourse except surrender. In surrender I found victory - victory over my selfish self-indulgence, victory over my stubborn resistance to life as it was given to me. When I stopped fighting anybody or anything, I started on the path to sobriety, serenity and peace.

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

Keeping sober is the most important thing in my life. The most important decision I ever made was my decision to give up drinking. I am convinced that my whole life depends on not taking that first drink. Nothing in the world is as important to me as my own sobriety. Everything I have, my whole life depends on that one thing. Can I afford ever to forget this, even for one minute?

Meditation For The Day

I will discipline myself. I will do this disciplining now.I will turn out all useless thoughts. I know that the goodness of my life is a necessary foundation for its usefulness. I will welcome this training, for without it God cannot give me his power. I believe that this power is a mighty power when used in the right way.

As Bill Sees It

Recovery Through Giving, p.275

For a new prospect, outline the program of action, explaining how you made a self-appraisal, how you straightened out your past, and why you are now endeavoring to be helpful to him. It is important for him to realize that your attempt to pass this on to him plays a vital part in your own recovery. Actually, he may be helping you more than you are helping him. Make it plain that he is under no obligation to you.

In the first six months of my own sobriety, I worked hard with many alcoholics. Not a one responded. Yet this work kept me
sober. It wasn't a question of those alcoholics giving me anything. My stability came out of trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive.
1. Alcoholics Anonymous, p.94
2. Grapevine, January 1958



January 6th 2007

Friday’s at the "Old Curiosity Shop"

I do enjoy my Friday meetings at the Response bookshop, I call it the Old Curiosity Shop, simply because we get curious types there from time to time and I am always a curious type. If you like, its the real reason for why I love Alcoholics Anonymous.

The Spirit of AA - Anarchy!

Funny really that a fellowship thrives where it has no leaders and everyone is equal, and everyone is allowed to be a fellow. Fellows of AA we are indeed. Simply because we have a desire to stop drinking a day at a time.

There are no rules, there are no dues or fees for AA. Simply resolving that drink is better left to others who can drink alcohol and not us anymore, for we are addicted to alcohol once the line is crossed to dependence if we take it.

AA is forever strong in helping anyone find themselves and be themselves. Of course there are many insane and mad people around in AA. After all the insanity we went to in our drinking means it takes time to get well and be our true selves again. In fact we often find the person we want to be rather than the suppressed person we were in our drinking days.

Tonight at the Old Curiosity Emporium, there were free spirits around, the stalwarts of AA who have gone through those times of finding who they are, or worse trying to make others like themselves. We are a strong fellowship who thrive on the individuality we have, our authenticity and our unique outlooks. We just have this one thing in common, a desire never to drink again. And that sums it up really, except for how to stop drinking.

Steps to Sobriety

Yes we do have them and tonight we heard how one person has made the steps of AA work for them. And very much like me, so tonight I am happy to hear a part of my story from our principle sharer, the chair of our meeting.
Like them I have found some in AA to be baffling characters who have big ideas for others to follow. And like our "chair" tonight I have often gone back to the simple structure and steps of AA.

AA Bleeding Deacons

An odd turn of phrase sums up some in AA and the founders called these potentates in AA "bleeding deacons", they are the ones who have the ideas for change, and what we might do as fellows. They are always ready with advice and notions they have gleaned from AA literature to make their point, or they adjust it to their view. Bleeding Deacons tell others what to do, and others if they have sense take no notice and get on with their recovery.

AA Elder Statesmen

Are the people who will offer us suggestions and make their story alive and share it so we get connection. Elder Statesmen, both men and women by the way, they are the good folks who value diversity and enabling people to find their true selves and their path to sobriety. They make good sponsors in the AA Fellowship of equals.

AA is a place of safety

Yet we need to understand that some favour making new rules and need their cohorts to make their own form of a fellowship. Bleeding Deacons we can find in any organisation, quoting rules as if scripture, and their own opinion and belief as if it were the absolute truth. Jobs worth and busy bodies and well arseholes really.

AA people get wiser

Well some people in AA do. They work the suggested 12 steps of this spiritual programme. And those who follow the steps, with good conscience as their guide, and or a God of their faith. Well here we are where I always end up. Good Conscience always for me, so we have choice in decisions and are responsible for our actions in sobriety.

AA Friends

I now have friends and fellow fellows to be with and to enjoy their company. As to the Bleeding Deacons, the bible thumpers, the press gangers, those who foster elitism and difference, rather than diversity? Well they still have their bullshit all over them, and they don’t see it.

God and AA

As if in the vastness of this Universe we might expect a God to be busy overseeing every person and situation. By our own morality that would be unacceptable at the very least. Anyway my point is not to undermine belief in God, its to access what we can all learn, common sense, good conscience and how to live as Nature and Providence made us. Simply free from denial and substance to get on with living in this moment of now. God and their outlook is not my business. My business is to make the best of Nature and Providence and this day as it is using my good conscience as my guide!

AA and Good Conscience

Are my higher power and the suggested steps of AA had set me free. What might bind me and make me unable to live to freedom and choice, simply a few who persist in dogma so readily seen and yet they seem to get away with espousing things most people might find insulting. Why? Because we are a fellowship where anyone can be a fellow if they desire to stop self harm and addiction. And of course it takes ages to get well and we need everyone to have a break to get to their place of sobriety.

Humble is not Humiliation

Some Bleeding Deacons are so full of ego and piety through their abstinence they are completely unaware of what they are. Bound not radical, chained to their outlook, narrow and superficial and sitting on their sobriety as If they have status and position

Elder Statesmen

Well they are sober just for today, they don’t tell anyone what to do, they share their story, how to make the toolkit of AA (the steps) work for each person and tailor them to make their sobriety strong and resolute on a daily basis.

In All Living there is Balance

And as with any fellowship we have our cranks, our opinionated who as I say, shout their belief from the gallery as if their belief is the truth.
Fortunately in AA well do this and after a while we know our path and others path.

We are a Fellowship

We are not an organisation, we do not have affiliations, and we believe fundamentally in freedom of spirit. So anyone can be a fellow and cause a scene or have views which others can accept or discard as they wish.

Spirit of Love

Spiritual is this ever present moment of now experienced with all our faculties and senses. We learn best from life with life lived on real terms and no filters. We learn a new path to reality in AA. Just be aware that some people who think they have Messiah qualities are deluded and we need to be tolerant of everyone who walks through to the rooms of AA. As to Prophets and Tax Inspector, we have plenty and some are quite ok and others are what you might expect, very hard work to be around!

Find your Truth and Your Path

As in life, its hard and full of sorrow as well as joy. We need both to know the difference.

Inside and Outside AA

I have friends and acquaintances. We tolerate, love each other, have friendship and fellowship. And in all these relationships we develop and learn to be equal. That is balance and fortitude for me. Be ourselves is my message tonight.

And with Friends here and there and much joy and sadness always, we learn from ourselves and life and our trusted fellows. There will always be plenty around looking for other elements that make them happy like trying to impose their will even though they think they have accepted powerlessness over people places and things (some of our principles of living), we need not be part of their lives.

AA and Choice

AA gives choices back to us fellows where choices had been lost. The best choices we make with the help of people we learn to trust. And like any fellowship there are shysters and cavalier types, as well as well adjusted and happy people making their lives work. Why do we have both? Simply we are a tolerant and strong fellowship with one primary purpose, once we are on the mend and doing our steps and developing our tool kit for survival, we learn and discern what works when we work at life.

So tonight after a very good meeting of AA, with plenty of free radicals with decades of sobriety I am a happy fellow. Just for today and tonight.

Peace until tomorrow, and I start from scratch just for a day!

January 6th 2006

When We Hesitate

When we hesitate, its because something slows down our immediate response. We take a measured view, we pause and reflect. And when we analyse much of what we do, in reflection its merely to endorse our initial feelings and assessment of life and situations.

So much time in reflection may be useful, for our outlook and our reaction or response to people places and things might need further thought to make our decisions clear.

Gut reaction more often than not, is supported by subsequent events. I will listen to my gut, my inner voice which tells me to be speedy or be cautious, be quick or be slow. And don't waste time where its better spent on my important matters.

One lifetime and so much opportunity, glad life teaches and lets go fanatical futility, picks us up and sends us soaring when we least expect...

Glad of life today!

-/-




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Be Tolerant

You have the power to tolerate anyone and any situation. But tolerance is not just suffering in silence.

It means going beyond any personal discomfort you may feel, and giving a gift to whom ever you would tolerate. Give your time, attention, understanding, compassion, care - all are gifts, which paradoxically, you also receive in the process of giving.

And, as you do, you will experience your own self esteem and inner strength grow. In this way you can turn tolerance into strength.






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Ghandi

There come to us moments in life when about some things we need no proof from without. A little voice within us tells us, 'You are on the right track, move neither to your left nor right, but keep to the straight and narrow way.

A person falsely claiming to act under divine inspiration or the promptings of the inner voice without having any such, will fare worse than the one falsely claiming to act under the authority of an earthly sovereign. Whereas the latter on being exposed will escape with injury to his body, the former may perish body and soul together.

You have to believe no one but yourselves. You must try to listen to the inner voice, but if you will not have the expression"inner voice", you may use the expression "dictates of reason", which you should obey, and if you will not parade God, I have no doubt you will parade something else which in the end will prove to be God, for, fortunately, there is no one and nothing else but God in this universe.

For me truth is the sovereign principle, which includes numerous other principles. This truth is not only truthfulness in word, but truthfulness in thought also, and not only the relative truth of our conception, but the Absolute Truth, the Eternal Principle, that is God. There are innumerable definitions of God, because His manifestations are innumerable. They overwhelm me with wonder and awe and for a moment stun me.




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Ghandi

There come to us moments in life when about some things we need no proof from without. A little voice within us tells us, 'You are on the right track, move neither to your left nor right, but keep to the straight and narrow way.

A person falsely claiming to act under divine inspiration or the promptings of the inner voice without having any such, will fare worse than the one falsely claiming to act under the authority of an earthly sovereign. Whereas the latter on being exposed will escape with injury to his body, the former may perish body and soul together.

You have to believe no one but yourselves. You must try to listen to the inner voice, but if you will not have the expression"inner voice", you may use the expression "dictates of reason", which you should obey, and if you will not parade God, I have no doubt you will parade something else which in the end will prove to be God, for, fortunately, there is no one and nothing else but God in this universe.

For me truth is the sovereign principle, which includes numerous other principles. This truth is not only truthfulness in word, but truthfulness in thought also, and not only the relative truth of our conception, but the Absolute Truth, the Eternal Principle, that is God. There are innumerable definitions of God, because His manifestations are innumerable. They overwhelm me with wonder and awe and for a moment stun me.







Don In London
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Progress Not Perfection



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