Latest / Sober Readings / Throughout Each Day
Transcript
- 10 16Reading: Good morning everyone. Welcome back to Sober Readings. Today is Friday. Happy Friday, everyone. It's October 16th. My name is Scott, and I am glad you're here with me today. We're gonna read from Daily Reflections, 24 hours a day, and as Bill sees it, and I can tell you that all three of these readings are very good today. I can relate to every single one of them. But let's get started today with the Serenity Prayer. God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change. Courage to change the things we can, and wisdom to know the difference. Today's reading from Daily Reflections Throughout each day. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. And that's a line that comes from the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous. During my early years in AA, I saw Step 10 as a suggestion that I periodically look at my behavior and reactions. If there was something wrong, I should admit it. If an apology was necessary, I should give one. After a few years of sobriety, I felt I should undertake a self examination more frequently. Not until several more years of sobriety had elapsed did I realize the full meaning of step 10 and the word continued. Continued does not mean occasionally or frequently. It means throughout each day. And what this reading means to me is that self-examination is one of the most important tools I have in recovery, especially at the end of the day when I can quietly reflect on my thoughts, my words, and my actions. Before going to bed, I need to ask myself whether I was honest, whether I treated others with kindness and respect, whether I allowed fear, resentment, or selfishness to influence my decisions, and whether I owe anyone an apology. This daily inventory isn't about beating myself up over my mistakes, but rather recognizing where I fell short and identifying opportunities to do better tomorrow. It's also important to acknowledge the things I did right and And be grateful for the progress I've made. By making self examination a daily habit, I can continue growing spiritually, remain accountable for my actions, and prevent the small character defects and resentments that could eventually threaten my sobriety. Today's reading from 24 hours a day. In the AA Thought for the Day, we have more questions. How seriously do I take my obligations to AA? Have I taken all the good I can get out of it, and then let my obligations slide? Am I not only grateful, but also proud to be part of such a wonderful fellowship, which is doing such marvelous work among alcoholics? And then the final question. Do I feel that I owe AA my loyalty and devotion? And in today's meditation for the day, this might be my favorite reading of the day. If your heart is right, your world will be right. The beginning of all reform must be in yourself. It's not what happens to you, it's how you take it. However restricted your circumstances, however little you may be able to remedy financial affairs, you can always turn to your inward self and seeing something not in order there, seek to write it. And it goes on to say that you will always find that the outward is improved. As the inward is improved, as you improve yourself, your outward circumstances will change for the better. The power released from within yourself will change your outward life. And in today's prayer for the day, we're praying that the hidden power within us may be released. And what I get from this reading is that one of the greatest lessons I've learned in recovery is that any meaningful change in my life has to begin within me. For years I blamed my circumstances, other people, and the things that happened to me for my unhappiness, never realizing that much of what needed fixing was within myself. And I've learned through sobriety and even through my relapse that I can't always control what life throws at me, whether it's financial struggles, broken relationships, or everyday disappointments, but I can control how I respond to those challenges. When things aren't going my way, I need to stop looking outward for someone or something to blame and instead take an honest look at my own attitudes, expectations, and behaviors. The twelve steps have taught me that while I may not have the power to change everything around me, with God's help, I have the opportunity to change something within myself. And I need to remember that when I'm pointing one finger at someone else, I've got three pointed right back at myself. And for today's final reading, we're going to, as Bill sees it, we're on page 33. This is a foundation for life. And this first section is really a great line out of the 12 and 12. It says, We discover that we receive guidance for our lives to just about the extent that we stop making demands upon God to give it to us on order and on our terms. And I'll mention that all three of these short sections come out of the 12 and 12. In praying, we ask simply that throughout the day God place in us the best understanding of His will that we can have for that day, and that we be given the grace by which we may carry it out. And then finally, there is a direct linkage among self examination, meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit. But when they are logically related and interwoven, The result is an unshakable foundation for life. And what I take away from that reading is one of the things I've had to learn in recovery is that God's guidance doesn't always come when I want it, how I want it, or in the form I expect it. For much of my first years in sobriety, I treated prayer almost like a list of demands, asking God to make things happen according to my plans, rather than seeking to understand His will for me. But I've come to realize that the more I try to control the outcome, the less willing I am to recognize the guidance that may already be right in front of me. Sometimes God answers in one of three ways. No, no, not yet. No, I've got a better way. True faith, at least for me, means letting go of my expectations, trusting his timing, and remembering that prayer is about seeking God's will, not convincing him. To follow mine. And so that's it for today's episode of Sober Readings. I hope you enjoyed it. If you'd like to be a guest on Sober Readings and share your experience, strength, and hope, or your take on today's readings or any other reading for that matter, there's a link in the show notes below to send me an email. And also if you'd like to drop a dollar in the virtual donation basket for today's readings, just go to my website, which is soberreadings.com, click on that support page, scroll down to the bottom. And you'll find a button that says drop a dollar in the basket. So thank you again for spending a few minutes of your day with me. Be good to yourselves, be good to others, and remember, we only have to do this one day at a time. So just for today, don't drink, go to a meeting, and keep coming back. Have a great day, everyone, and as my friend Larry says, best day ever.