The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
There is ONLY ONE TRUTH that will set anybody free.... I don't claim to be right about choices and things in my life, but there is ONE thing I will ALWAYS claim and that is that I have been blessed in having God a part of my life and allows me to accept EVERYONE without restricting it to one resource for recovery.
Luke 12:49-52
(Jesus said), "I came to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism to receive, and how distressed I am until it is over! Do you suppose that I came to bring peace to the world? No, not peace, but division. From now on a family of five will be divided, three against two and two against three. Fathers will be against their sons, and sons against their fathers; mothers will be against their daughters, and daughters against their mothers; mothers-in-law will be against their daughters-in-law, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law."
I believe this is EXACTLY why so many people, including myself continue to repeat the cycle of abuse in relationships or choose UNHEALTHY relationships because ultimately when someone decides to leave an unhealthy relationship, they essentially are still STUCK in the relationship with their family because most of us (NOT ME ANY LONGER), but most of us, think we are supposed to be accepting of our parents, brothers, or sisters, and set aside our feelings (DETACH) Well, of course when that happens then we are STILL accepting of living a life with this behavior and the people WE choose to be around-- in turn, our next relationship will result once again the same as all others. I say BS to it all. God has a plan for my life and it is definitely not for others to abuse me, nor for me to be unequally yoked, bound to ANYONE that is NOT a believer of God.... For ONE important reason. We are not to be unequally yoked to anyone or anything. :)))
I have and can relate and have come to realize that it is when I am ONLY at a place in my life that I can honestly say, I DON'T KNOW what else to do and I've done ALL that I can that I discover God working in my life with unexpected events or help that comes along suddenly during this time. Being able to reflect on these moments when chaos sets in again and again and again is the reason why I can always come back to God. There are some particular scriptures that I find quite interesting, as they can compare to any 12-step program.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (Let Go and Let God)
"Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil." Matthew 6:34 (One Day At A Time essentially)
God "knows the plans He has for us. Plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29: 11
Have ya ever stopped to contrast/compare ANY recovery literature or psychological diagnosis information to scripture? It's amazing that most of what we define and speak about with those resources are ALL in the Bible, yet nobody acknowledges it. And the other is what I find most interesting because it is ultimately what I believed my entire life-- EVEN BEFORE I knew anything about who God was, about scripture and frankly hadn't even believed a God existed. I KNEW that despite our family being our family that we do not have to tolerate any type of abusive behavior or disrespect and if it meant walking completely away from our family, then that is what was necessary. Then I came to discover God in my life and all that was strengthen, as I learned that NOBODY should be put above God in our life-- Not our mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, daughters, sons.... God is to be first and then all else will fall into place. I also learned that if we set our sites on earthly goals, desires and dreams that chaos is bound to arise and peace is lost.
So why is it that as much as these scripture readings compare directly with any recovery literature that they are avoided and restricted from being mentioned while a person is sharing....
If Alanon is based on God/Christianity/Bible verses, that excludes so many other religions and beliefs. Other religions/beliefs also have sayings/verses and a version of "God" whose teachings they live by that could also be seen in the same light.
ie: Buddhist's have their own version of a Jesus-like person who was born about 566 B.C.
In Buddhism, the most important rules are the Five Precepts. These have been passed down from the Buddha himself.
1. No killing Respect for life 2. No stealing Respect for others' property 3. No sexual misconduct Respect for our pure nature 4. No lying Respect for honesty 5. No intoxicants Respect for a clear mind
(sound familiar)?
Native Indian: Many followers of Native American Spirituality, do not regard their spiritual beliefs and practices as a "religion" in the way in which many Christians do. Their beliefs and practices form a integral and seamless part of their very being.
"If you take [a copy of] the Christian Bible and put it out in the wind and the rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone. Our bible IS the wind, the rain, all living things. All living things are one." Statement by an anonymous Native woman.
That is why Alanon chooses to say "Higher Power", so it can be all inclusive.
You may be absolutely sure your God is the only God, (along with phrases and verses), just as the people I have mentioned are sure their HP is the only HP along with written or nonwritten teachings.
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
The biggest gift to me in therapy was the acknowledgement that a power greater than myself was the god of my understanding. And all that time I thought I was alone. The concept of one god was not my belief.
Isn't it wonderful that we all have a higher power that is there for us?
