Monday, August 25, 2008

Knowing Gods will is not enough - action is required to carry it out

First Step
We tend to see things not as they are but as we are.
Becoming quiet and simple inside is a first step to seeing things truly.

From Inner Space

yes the bus outside has squeaky brakes and its annoying me
no the bus outside has squeaky brakes regardless
of whether I am here or not
its not doing it to annoy me
everyone in the vicinity can also hear it
its not personal

yes The forms I am filling in
are really tedious and hard to sit and do
no the forms are standard forms
they are not tedious and hard
because they are not a familiar activity to me
they are just forms
silent pieces of paper with printing on them
not dangerous or emotionally disturbing
everyone fills them going through this process
its not personal

yes people will judge me
question me
say things which I see to be untrue
in relation to me which I take as critic
not accepting
not encouraging

regarding the bus
well ear plugs
or just tune out like i do mostly

regarding the forms
start at the beginning and fill them
in step by step
then send them off
its part of the process

regarding people
its not personal!
its just their perception
of how I appear to them
I do it too
judge others
not react enthusiastic
sometimes, while things get processed
in my head
I must do... I am human
like you

self will... self centredness
I dont want things to be how they are
these things a deliberatly meant/sent
to try me
its all too hard...
I dont want to...
I cant..
all dishonest

see I dont have to do any of this!
we make our own misery
or we can see it as the character building stuff
that following things through
being responsible carries
which ultimately leads to the joys
and freedom

And Acceptance is the answer
This is where will power is required
inorder to follow through to Gods will
it doesnt say
get the promises and then
keep taking inventory
keep praying for forgiveness
and intuition
and then do nothing with it
does it?
nah once you know
its more action!
step 12 action inside and outside the room

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all of our activities. “How can I best serve Thee-Thy will (not mine) be done.” These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will.

Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We have begun to develop this vital sixth sense. But we must go further and that means more action.P85

On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives. Under these conditions we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives.p86

We alcoholics are undisciplined. So we let God discipline us in the simple way we have just outlined. But this is not all. There is action and more action. “Faith without works is dead.” P88

2 comments:

Syd said...

There are some days that I think I'm okay and am doing well. Then something comes along to make me realize how far from well I am and how much I need this program.

Anonymous said...

The real pleasure, the real contentment in life is helping other people and knowing your doing what you know is the right thing. We need to help each other end poverty, to end disease. God has given us the tools to do it, but most of us don’t see it. We need to help each other even if we don’t understand each other’s customs. We can’t do this by trying to change others to believe what you believe but we must try and understand each other. We can’t just give to others; we need to give them the tools to provide for themselves so they can be proud of their own achievements. In turn hopefully they will help others. Doing the right thing is a constant goal, not something done one day and think you’ve done your part. We must look at the tools we have to help this world and we must understand what God wants us to do.