~A.A.
Thoughts
For
The Day~
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Paradox
"We Give Away to Keep. That seems absurd and
untrue. How can you keep anything if you give it away? But in order to
keep whatever it is we get in A.A., we must go about giving it away to others,
for no fees or rewards of any kind. When we cannot afford to give away
what we have received so freely in A.A., we had better get ready for our
next 'drunk.' It will happen every time. We've got to continue to give
it away in order to keep it."
The Professor and the Paradox 1955AAWS
Alcoholics Anonymous (2nd Ed.), pp. 341-2
Thought
to Consider . . .
"We are not living just to be sober; we are living
to learn, to serve, and to love."
As Bill Sees It, p. 94
*~*AACRONYMS*~*
H E L P
Hope, Encouragement, Love, and Patience
"Let's see how these two
contrasting ideas - attraction and promotion - work out. A political party
wishes to win an election, so it advertises the virtues of its leadership to
draw votes. A worthy charity wants to raise money; forthwith, its letterhead
shows the name of every distinguished person whose support can be obtained. Much
of the political, economic, and religious life of the world is dependent upon
publicized leadership. People who symbolize causes and ideas fill a deep human
need. We of A.A. do not question that. But we do have to soberly face the fact
that being in the public eye is hazardous, especially for us. By temperament,
nearly every one of us had been an irrepressible promoter, and the prospect of a
society composed almost entirely of promoters was frightening. Considering this
explosive factor, we knew we had to exercise
self-restraint."
1981, AAWS Inc.
Twelve
Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 181
"If, when you
honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you
have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. If
that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual
experience will conquer."
Alcoholics Anonymous 4th Edition
We Agnostics, pg.
44
*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*
A.A. Thought for the Day
After we had sobered up
through the A.A. program, we gradually began to get a peace of mind and serenity
which we never thought were possible. This peace of mind is based on a feeling
that fundamentally all is well. That does not mean that all is well on the
surface of things. Little things can keep going wrong and big things can keep on
upsetting us. But deep down in our hearts we know that everything is eventually
going to be all right, now that we are living sober lives. Have I achieved a
deep down, inner calm?
Meditation for the Day
You
are climbing up the ladder of life, which reaches into eternity. Would God plant
your feet upon an insecure ladder? Its supports may be out of sight, hidden
in secret places, but if God has asked you to step on and up firmly, then surely
He has secured your ladder. Faith gives you the strength to climb steadily this
ladder of life. You should leave your security to God and trust Him not to let
you fall. He is there to give you all the power you need to keep on climbing.
Prayer for the
Day
I pray that I may climb the ladder of
life without fear. I pray that I may progress steadily through the rest of
my life with faith and confidence.
Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012