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.
If you are completely happy with your spiritual situation and have a rock-solid faith in your religious \ spiritual situation of choice, or if you only read conference approved literature, this recommendation probably isn't for you - but if you're like I was (faith challenged, constantly questioning, looking for answers that work FOR ME), read on!
So, just as my now adult son started to spiral downhill about 15 years ago, I found that any answers or help from the religion I'd been associated with all my life, for me, just weren't up to the challenge any more - the "answers" didn't make any sense for me any more, and in place of answers, I had more and more questions. For reasons unknown to me (the title probably snagged me), I picked up the book "When Bad Things Happen To Good People".
For me, this book changed my life - in fact, I'd rank reading this book as one of the Top 10 things in my life. I certainly wouldn't classify this book as religious - it's spiritual - but even more, it's given me a way that I can live my life knowing with certainty that God always want's the best for me, and that when bad things do happen, God grieves with me, too, and that it isn't His fault - it isn't His plan for me. More importantly, for me, after reading the book, I FINALLY had a way of understanding how my HP (God) worked for good in my life and for my son. The author is a Jewish guy, a Rabbi, but it's not in any way an attempt to convert ya to Judaism or impose the tenets of the Jewish faith. It's about man and God, and for me, the blockbuster was that God isn't responsible for the bad things that happen to us in life. In fact, the author completely rejects the idea of a "grand plan" that us mere mortals could never hope to understand, yet is responsible for the bad things happening to good people.
Like I said, the book changed my life - if you're wondering, it's worth looking at.
Thanks for the suggestion. I got into Anthony de mello a Jesuit priest. He is my non alanon go to. I feel the idea of bad things is an inaccurate judgement now I have God in my life. I believe God is giving me growth and it's my judgement that labels it good or bad. It's a relief to think this way. It stops me worrying and panicking so much. It's a relief to know that often the bad things are just a necessary passage towards something better.
Hey TY - I have this and read it well before I was mature enough to absorb/understand it. I thank you for the reminder - will pull it out and revisit it.
I am one who supports any effort to heal/deal with 'life' affects. I appreciate your insight and review!
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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
that God always want's the best for me, and that when bad things do happen, God grieves with me, too, and that it isn't His fault - it isn't His plan for me. More importantly, for me, after reading the book, I FINALLY had a way of understanding how my HP (God) worked for good in my life
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THANK YOU TY...I read this YEARS ago, when I wasn't "old enough" in my growth to appreciate it....I'm gonna get on amazon and see if I can get another copy....I agree...HP isn't capable of giving us evil or unwanted karma....its LIFE...just LIFE...why does the Lion eat one Zebra and leave the others alone??? , yea, it could be Zebra was limping or ill, OR just in the wrong place at the wrong time....Its just LIFE or in this case LOSS of life.....like the animals in the forest, we can do all we can to be fit, be careful, work our program, put on our "emotional sunscreen" to protect us from toxic people, et.c., minimize being a crime victim by locking doors, not allowing strangers in my house, etc., eating clean, exercising to keep me fit....yea, I can do a LOT to minimize my bad energy, but crap happens!!! I USED to blame/curse g-d...now I really feel that HP is not really involved in my day to day life...yea, maybe I can get guidance, wisdom, courage, etc (Serenity prayer is the ONLY prayer that makes sense to me) but I have to DO my life as best as I can and let go the outcomes...Dunno if HP grieves with me, not sure about that, but I no longer blame/curse creator for my bad karma...its either LIFE..or my bad choices or just my being human and imperfect and I am wrong at times....
