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.
Today's daily reading suggests that the Al-Anon program is a spiritual program, not a religious program. No religious belief is required and we each get to choose any power greater than ourselves as our spiritual being. If anyone has had LTP (Less Than Perfect) life experiences with organized religion, the freedom to believe in ANY power greater than ourselves is a big gift of our program.
Spirituality simply means that there is a Power great than ourselves upon which we can come to rely. It does not matter if you call this Power God or Good Orderly Direction or Allah or the Universe or even still another name, it only matters to our program that "We Come to Believe in a Power greater than ourselves - our Step 2.
The reading compares the higher power concept to electricity that lights and powers machinery - we need not understand what electricity is or how it works to enjoy it - all we need to do is turn on the switch.
Today's Reminder --- I may be seeking a more loving God in whom I can place my trust, or facing a challenge that puts my long-established beliefs to a test, or struggling with the very idea of a Higher Power. Whatever I believe, I can pray for greater faith today. Just that little act of willingness can work miracles.
Today's Quote --- from Al-Anon's Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions --- "When I have at last realized that my problems are too big to solve by myself . . . I need not be alone with them if I am willing to accept help from a Higher Power."
When I first arrived at recovery and read the 12 Steps, I was a bit frozen by the mention of a Higher Power and/or God. I had been raised with organized religion, and had not seen any benefit whatsoever, and honestly had no idea what I believed. In my mind, if there was a God, why was there so much evil in the world and why did bad things happen to good people?
My pain was greater than my lack of faith, so I listened to the ESH of others, and did not name my HP for a while - I just believed that there was a power greater than me that could lead me through my pain, to the other side - restoring my sanity. It took my a while to still my racing mind long enough to consider meditating and/or prayer. It took even longer to be able to find and see the good things that my distorted thinking blocked out. The disease in my life had me always looking at what was wrong in my world - I had to practice looking for and at what was right instead.
There was no burning bush for me - instead small miracles all around me that brought me to a calmer place and serenity. My willingness to just have an open mind in the beginning brought me the ability to breathe. My willingness to attend meetings, read literature and find a sponsor to work the steps brought me the ability to trust. And finally, working the steps gave me the gift of feeling a power greater than me working in my life.
Step 2 doesn't ask me to do anything beyond believing a power greater than me exists and can restore me to peace. I am so grateful that I get to define my HP and that I only have to ask for help and I get it. My HP doesn't give me what I want, but surely gives me what I need!
TGIF everyone - make it a great day!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
Thanks for your service IAH This is an extremely important principle of alanon and one that I embraced wholeheartedly.
When I came into program, I was very angry with the God of my childhood (after all He had not done MY will nor made the world to my liking ). When I explored the possibility of a Power Greater Than Myself, and was given the option of choosing a GOD ( good orderly direction) that I could identify with, I choose the principles and philosophies of alanon as I could see how powerful they were and that they worked.
When I explored the possibility of a Power Greater Than Myself, and was given the option of choosing a GOD ( good orderly direction) that I could identify with, I choose the principles and philosophies of alanon as I could see how powerful they were and that they worked.