Transcript

The Keystone · Sober Readings

Scott Hayes: Good morning, it's Saturday the 14th of March. is Sober Readings. Today's reading from Daily Reflections. The Keystone. He is the Father and we are his children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom. That's from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, page 62. A keystone is the wedge-shaped piece at the highest part of an arch that locks the other pieces in place. The other pieces are steps 1, 2, and 4 through 12. In one sense, this sounds like step 3 is the most important step, that the other 11 depend on the third for support. In reality, however, step 3 is just one of 12. It is the keystone But without 11 other stones to build the base and arms, keystone or not, there will be no arch. Through daily working of all 12 steps, I find that triumphant arch waiting for me to pass through to another day of freedom. Today's reading from 24 Hours. March 14, AA Thought for the Day. Can I get well? If I mean, can I ever drink normally again, the answer is no. But if I mean, can I stay sober? The answer is definitely yes. I can get well by turning my drink problem over to a power greater than myself, that divine principle in the universe which we call God, and by asking that power each morning to give me the strength to stay sober for the next 24 hours. I know from experience of thousands of people that if I honestly want to get well, I can get well. So ask yourself, am I faithfully following the AA program? Meditation for the Day Persevere in all that God's guidance moves you to do. The persistence carrying out of what seems right and good will bring you to that place where you would be. If you look back over God's guidance, you will see that His leading has been very gradual and that only as you have carried out His wishes, as far as you can understand them, has God been able to give you more clear and definite leading? Man is led by God's touch on a quickened, responsive mind. The prayer for the day. I pray that I may persevere in doing what seems right. I pray that I may carry out all of God's leading as far as I can understand it. And for today's final reading, we'll go to As Bill Sees It, page 259. Servant, not master. In AA, we found that it did not matter too much what our material condition was, but it mattered greatly what our spiritual condition was. As we improved our spiritual outlook, money gradually became our servant and not our master. It became a means of exchanging love and service with those about us. That's from the Twelve and Twelve, page 122. One of AA's loners is an Australian sheep man who lives 2,000 miles from the nearest town, where yearly he sells his wool. In order to be paid the best prices, he asked to get to town during a certain month. But when he heard that a big regional AA meeting was to be held at a later date when wool prices would have fallen, he gladly took a heavy financial loss in order to make his journey then. That's how much an AA meeting means to him. And that's from AA Comes of Age, page 31. And that's it for today's readings. Before I close, I'd like to share something with you. In the AA Thought for the Day, there's a line that says, can get well by turning my drink problem over to a power greater than myself. That divine principle in the universe, which we call God. In that part, which we call God. reminded me of this metaphor that I heard one time, and it's actually from a priest named Barry Taylor. And it says, is the name of the blanket we throw over the mystery to give it shape. And I thought that was interesting because it just reminds me that when it comes to my higher power or God, saying that I don't know and I don't understand is okay. And I know that a lot of people have a problem with the word God, with using the word God. But I love this metaphor because it implies that reality remains unknowable. We don't know what's under the blanket, but we give it a name and the blanket gives it shape, something that feels tangible to us. It almost provides a certain level of comfort, this metaphor suggesting that religion and spirituality are providing that comfort, you know, allowing us to navigate the unknown without fear. And what's beautiful about this metaphor is that everyone has their own ideas and opinions about what's under the blanket. And that brings it right back around to the idea of the higher power in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Everyone has their own concept of the higher power. God as I understand him. God as you understand him. And so I'd love to hear your thoughts and your comments on this. Send me an email at soberreadingswithscott at gmail.com or go to my website soberreadings.com and there's a form that you can fill out. And while you're there, if you haven't followed the show, just click that scrolling red link. And again, if you'd like to drop a dollar in the donation basket for today's readings, just click the donate button. So again, thanks for listening everyone. Take care of yourselves and each other. And remember just for today, don't drink, go to a meeting and keep coming back. Have a great day. And as my friend Larry says, best day ever.