Latest / Sober Readings / Those Who Still Suffer
Transcript
- Scott Hayes: Welcome back to Sober Readings. Today is Tuesday, the twenty eighth of july. Let's begin today's episode with the 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. Those who still suffer. Let us resist the proud assumption that since God has enabled us to do well in one area, we are destined to be a channel of saving grace for everybody. That's from page two hundred and thirty two of AA Comes of Age. AA groups exist to help alcoholics achieve sobriety. Large or small, firmly established or brand new, speaker, discussion or study, each group has but one reason for being: to carry the message to the still-suffering alcoholic. The group exists so that the alcoholic can find a new way of life, a life abundant in happiness, joy, and freedom. To recover, Most alcoholics need the support of a group of other alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope. Thus my sobriety and our program's survival depend on my determination to put first things first. From twenty four hours, july twenty eighth, AA thought for the day. To continue the paraphrase of the Psalm, The judgments of the twelve steps are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than whiskey, yea, than much fine whiskey, sweeter almost than wine. Moreover, by them are alcoholics warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand our alcoholism? Cleanse us from secret faults, keep us from presumptuous resentments. Let them not have dominion over us. Then shall we be upright and free of the great transgression. Am I resolved that liquor will never again have dominion over me? The meditation for the day. God can be your shield. Then no problems of the world can harm you. Between you and all scorn and indignity from others is your trust in God like a shining shield. Nothing can then have the power to spoil your inward peace. With this shield, you can attain this inward peace quickly in your surroundings as well as in your heart. With this inward peace, you can You do not need to resent the person who troubles you. Instead, you can overcome the resentment in your own mind which may have been aroused by that person. today's prayer for the day, I pray that I may strive for inward peace. I pray that I may not be seriously upset, no matter what happens around me. Today's meditation from Touchstone. I am ill because my mind is in a rut and refuses to leave. That's a quote from Karen Giardino. We are vulnerable human beings. We are susceptible to accidents and disease, and we can get bogged down in unhealthy thinking. We aren't at fault when we catch a cold or get a more serious illness, and accidents can happen to anyone. In the same way, our addictions and the addictions of people we are close to are not our fault. We never ask for these afflictions, yet we must deal with them. Physical and spiritual health can't be separated. A thriving spiritual life creates an environment for physical healing and strength. In the same way, physical well being infuses our spirit with hope and joy. Human beings cannot go through life without sometimes being ill in either mind or body. Living by this program helps make us healthier in all ways. When we are bogged down, we can turn to one of the steps as a means of healing and release. Today I will remember that I am a whole man with body and spirit as one. As I turn to the steps, my whole being is healed. And today's final reading is from As Bill sees it. We're gonna read from page three two two. Easy does it, but do it. Procrastination is really sloth in five syllables. And that's a line from the twelve and twelve page sixty seven. My observation is that some people can get by with a certain amount of postponement, but few can live with outright rebellion. And that was in a letter written in nineteen fifty two. We have succeeded in confronting many a problem drinker with that awful alternative. This we AAs do or we die. Once this much is firmly in his mind, more drinking only turns the coil tighter. As many an alcoholic has said, I came to the place where it was either into AA or out the window. So here I am. And that's from another letter written in 1950. And that's gonna do it for today's episode of Sober Readings. I hope you enjoyed those readings. If you did, hit that like button and share and subscribe so you don't miss the next episode. And if you'd like to be a guest reader on the show, I'd love to have you. Just send me an email at soberreadingswithscott at gmail.com. Or another way to get in touch with me is to go to my website, soberreadings.com, and fill out the short form. And while you're there, if you'd like to drop a dollar in the virtual donation basket, just click that donate button. So again, thank you so much for listening, stay sober, keep reading, and I'll catch 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.