Thoughts For The Day~*~Paradox ^*^*^ August 17, 2012

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~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Paradox
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"2. We GIVE AWAY TO KEEP.
That seems absurd and untrue.
How can you keep anything if you give it away?
But in order to keep whatever it is we get in AA,
we must go about giving it away to others,
for no fees or rewards of any kind.
When we cannot afford to give away
what we have received so freely in AA,
we had better get ready for our next 'drunk.'
It will happen every time.
We've got to continue to give it away in order to keep it."
The Professor and the Paradox.
1955AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, Second Edition, p. 341
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Thought to Consider . . .

I keep my sobriety by giving it away.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*

            H O P E  =  Helping Other People Every day.

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

 

Simple Beauty

From "A Prayer for All Seasons:"

 

"The power of [The Serenity Prayer] is overwhelming in that its simple beauty parallels the A.A. Fellowship.  There are times when I get stuck while reciting it, but if I examine the section which is troubling me, I find the answer to my problem....By accepting life as it is, I gain serenity.  By taking action, I gain courage and I thank God for the ability
to distinguish between those situations I can work on, and those I must turn over.  All that I have now is a gift from God: my life, my usefulness, my contentment, and this program.

 

"Alcoholics Anonymous IS the easier, softer way."

 

1990, Daily Reflections, page 221

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
RIGHTING THE HARM

In many instances we shall find that though the harm done others has
not been great, the emotional harm we have done ourselves has.

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 79

Have you ever thought that the harm you did a business associate,
or perhaps a family member, was so slight that it really didn't
deserve an apology because they probably wouldn't remember it anyway?
If that person, and the wrong done to him, keeps coming to mind,
time and again, causing an uneasy or perhaps guilty feeling, then I
put that person's name at the top of my "amends list," and become
willing to make a sincere apology, knowing I will feel calm and
relaxed about that person once this very important part of my
recovery is accomplished.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Day of Homecoming

"As sobriety means long life and happiness for the individual, so does unity mean exactly the same thing to our Society as a whole. Unified we live; disunited we shall perish."

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"We must think deeply of all those sick ones still to come to A.A. As they
try to 5make their return to faith and to life, we want them to find
everything in A.A. that we have found, and yet more, if that be possible. No care, no vigilance, no effort to preserve A.A.'s constant effectiveness and spiritual strength will ever be too great to hold us in full readiness for the day of their homecoming."

1. LETTER, 1949 - 2. TALK, 1959

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can
laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness.
Paradoxically, it is the way of strength. The verdict of the ages is
that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust
their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him
demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our
fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once,
we commence to outgrow fear."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 68~

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

"To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic, a spiritual
experience seems impossible, but to continue as he is means
disaster. To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a
spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face. But
we have to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of
life-or else. Lack of power is our dilemma. We have to find a
power by which we can live, and it has to be a power greater than
ourselves." Have I found that power by which I can live?

Meditation for the Day

Sunshine is the laughter of nature. Live out in the sunshine.
The sun and air are good medicine. Nature is a good nurse for
tired bodies. Let her have her way with you. God's grace is like
the sunshine. Let your whole being be enwrapped in the Divine
spirit. Faith is the soul's breathing in of the Divine spirit.
It makes glad the hearts of human beings. The Divine spirit heals
and cures the mind. Let it have its way and A will be well.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may live in the sunshine of God's spirit. I pray
that my mind and soul may be energized by it.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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