Latest / Sober Readings / Long-Term Hope
Transcript
- Scott Hayes: Welcome to Sober Readings. Today is Sunday, the seventh of June. Let's begin with a serenity prayer. God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Today's reading from Daily Reflections Long Term Hope. Since most of us are born with an abundance of natural desires, it isn't strange that we often let these far exceed their intended purpose. When they drive us blindly or we willfully demand that they supply us with more satisfactions or pleasures than are possible or due us, that is the point at which we depart from the degree of perfection that God wishes for us here on earth. That is the measure of our character defects, or if you wish, of of our sins. And that's from the twelve steps and twelve traditions page sixty five. This is where long term hope is born and perspective is gained, both of the nature of my illness and the path of my recovery. The beauty of AA lies in knowing that my life, with God's help, will improve. The AA journey becomes richer, the understanding becomes truth, the dreams become realities. And today becomes forever. As I step into the AA light, my heart fills with the presence of God. Today's reading from twenty four hours, June seventh, AA Thought for the Day. Alcoholism is a progressive illness. We go through the three stages of social drinking, trouble drinking, and merry go round drinking. We land in hospitals and jails. We eventually lose our homes, our families, and our self respect. Yes, alcoholism is a progressive illness, and there are only three ends to it the insane asylum, the morgue, or total abstinence. So ask yourself, will I choose not to take the first drink? Meditation for the day. You can not only live a new life, but you can grow in grace and power and beauty. Reach ever forward and upward after the things of the spirit. In the animal world, the very form of an animal changes to enable it to reach that upon which it delights to feed. Your whole character changes as you reach upward for the things of the spirit, for beauty, for love, for honesty, for purity, for And for unselfishness. Reaching after these things of the Spirit, your whole nature becomes changed so that you can best receive and delight in the wonders of the abundant life. And today's prayer for the day. I pray that I may reach forward and upward. I pray that my character may be changed by this reaching upward for the things of the Spirit. And for today's final reading, I'll read from As Bill Sees It. And today we're reading from page 293 Rebellion or Acceptance? All of us pass through times when we can pray only with the greatest exertion. Occasionally we go even further than this. We are seized with a rebellion so sickening that we simply won't pray. When these things happen, we should not think too ill of ourselves. We should simply resume prayer as soon as we can, doing what we know to be good for us. And that's from the 12 and 12, page 105. A man who persists in prayer finds himself in possession of great gifts. When he asks to deal with hard circumstances, he finds he can face them. He can accept himself and the world around him. He can do this because he now accepts a God who is all, and who loves all. When he says, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, he deeply and humbly means it. When in good meditation he says And thus freed from the clamors of the world, he knows that he is in God's hands, that his own ultimate destiny is really secure here and hereafter, come what may. And that's from an article in The Grapevine, dated June of nineteen fifty-eight. And that's it for today's episode of Sober Readings. Thank you all for listening. If you'd like to drop a dollar in the virtual donation basket, just go to my website, soberreadings.com. and you can click the donate button. So again, thank you for listening. Stay sober, keep reading, and I'll see you in the next episode. Until then, 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.