Check-In .. Friday 10/7

[WooDYFM]

This brings to mind a story about one of our friends. While drinking,
he accepted a sum of money from a bitterly-hated business rival,
giving him no receipt for it. He subsequently denied having received
the money and used the incident as a basis for discrediting the man.
He thus used his own wrong-doing as a means of destroying the
reputation of another. In fact, his rival was ruined.



He felt that he had done a wrong he could not possibly make right. If
he opened that old affair, he was afraid it would destroy the
reputation of his partner, disgrace his family and take away his means
of livelihood. What right had he to involve those dependent upon him?
How could he possibly make a public statement exonerating his rival?



After consulting with his wife and partner he came to the conclusion
that is was better to take those risks than to stand before his
Creator guilty of such ruinous slander. He saw that he had to place
the outcome in God's hands or he would soon start drinking again, and
all would be lost anyhow. He attended church for the first time in
many years. After the sermon, he quietly got up and made an
explanation. His action met wide-spread approval, and today he is one
of the most trusted citizens of his town. This all happened years ago.





~ Alcoholics Anonymous, page 80




=================




Yom Kippur starts tonight - the Jewish "day of atonement" associated
with the New Year on the Hebrew calendar. Ironic that my Big Book
study coincides with the 9th Step amends on this date! Sure, we've all
done wrong (while still drinking and while sober). This is the annual
opportunity for Jews to atone for their sins. In fact, many observant
folks fast for a day. As much as I personally have grown away from
synagogue and closer to God thru AA in my own recovery, the message
behind Yom Kippur is meaningful to me.





We all are guilty at times. We all have sinned. We are not saints. We
must be willing to apologize and change in order to keep progressing
further along the happy path of destiny as promised by living in the
sober solution! The Steps closely parallel many religions, including
in the Bible, the Torah, and even a clergy member's sermon. Listen for
the message - God is everywhere! J





=================


YOM KIPPUR:

Y - Youth in recovery simply means we have more growing to do; it has
nothing to do with age
O - Open to learning about different religions - doesn't mean I have
to believe
M - Miracle of the day - I woke up sober again J

K - Kindergarten is going very well for my daughter, FYI.
I - I am grateful to be so busy at work!
P - Positive attitude despite life's challenges is better than the
alternative; choose to be as happy as possible
P - Practicing the principles of our program in all my affairs today
to the best of my ability.
U - Use the steps; they're better exercise than the softer, easier
elevator ride ;)
R - Right now I'm exactly where I'm supposed be - thank God.


=================




Friday Music:
+ Pearl Jam - Black - http://blip.fm/~17wzlc
+ EMF - Unbelievable - http://blip.fm/~17wzkh
+ Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream - http://blip.fm/~17wzk2



Friday Quotes (from sober friends on Facebook):
+ "I'm only responsible for what I say, not for what you understand."
+ "Courage is fear that has said its prayers."
+ "If only closed minds came with closed mouths."
+ "Words can hurt or heal - what did yours do today?"



=================

Jonathan, Alcoholic from New Jersey
TXT MSG: 917-741-3656
http://billwfriends.ning.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NOW.HIRING.JOBS