Blog entry for:
Wed, Nov 25, 2009 09:01:19 AM
⋅ the peace and tranquility i experience during my quiet times ⋅
posted: Wed, Nov 25, 2009 09:01:19 AM
confirms that my most important needs -- my spiritual needs -- are being met. as i was reading this entry this morning, i was struck by the poignancy of it all. yesterday, i sent a letter to a brother in recovery who is struggling with the whole HP concept gig. it has been less than a good nine months for him, ans as a result, he struggling with coming to believe. the good part of that, is that he has not abandoned HOPE, even though he is in an intolerable environment, and even though his situation over the past six months has looked hopeless. he attributes his current situation, in part, to consequences of decisions and behaviors that he made a conscious choices to implement. mostly he blames another person and many members in the fellowship for not having his back.
what does this have to do with anything that the reading spoke to? well, yesterday, i got to examine my own belief structure and for the first time since the completion of my 11th step, actually write down how that structure works for me. as i reread what i wrote, i see now a whole lot more detail than i put into that letter, and whether or not that detail is important or not i do not know. what i do know that the structure i have come to see, for the first time in my recovery, does not rely on any self-deception or denial of what i think i know. for the first time, the structure fits and i am willing to allow it to grow and change as more information becomes available to my conscious self. while this may not seem earth shattering to anyone else, to me it really is. the cosmic blast that i had as a result of my 11th step, the reordering of my internal world as a result of the spiritual awakening that blast produced, has made me reluctant to move forward. my rational self wants to put everything into context before i can move on. this morning, while in quiet contemplation, i saw that is exactly what i have done.
with that context in place, i can be present for who i am, and i can better carry the message of recovery, as now i can trust my feelings in this regard. i am a parrot no more, at least in this spiritual context. i do not believe that i have found a path that is untrodden, but i do believe that it a path that is rarely trodden upon. there was a quiet certainty in my meditation last night and this morning, that i have very rarely felt in the past, and that certainty will lead me on to another day in active recovery. i am grateful for a program that allows me the creative freedom to approach the divine in a manner of my own choosing, and more than grateful that perhaps i can help a brother discover his own path.
what does all that mean in the here and now, because after all, today is all i really have. it means that i can move forward secure in the knowledge, that unless i choose to leave this path, my spiritual needs will be met, all i have to do, is allow that to happen. which i do believe i will. so as the holiday gorge is almost here, it is time for a quick jaunt around the neighborhood with the dawg. it is after all a good day to take care of myself.
what does this have to do with anything that the reading spoke to? well, yesterday, i got to examine my own belief structure and for the first time since the completion of my 11th step, actually write down how that structure works for me. as i reread what i wrote, i see now a whole lot more detail than i put into that letter, and whether or not that detail is important or not i do not know. what i do know that the structure i have come to see, for the first time in my recovery, does not rely on any self-deception or denial of what i think i know. for the first time, the structure fits and i am willing to allow it to grow and change as more information becomes available to my conscious self. while this may not seem earth shattering to anyone else, to me it really is. the cosmic blast that i had as a result of my 11th step, the reordering of my internal world as a result of the spiritual awakening that blast produced, has made me reluctant to move forward. my rational self wants to put everything into context before i can move on. this morning, while in quiet contemplation, i saw that is exactly what i have done.
with that context in place, i can be present for who i am, and i can better carry the message of recovery, as now i can trust my feelings in this regard. i am a parrot no more, at least in this spiritual context. i do not believe that i have found a path that is untrodden, but i do believe that it a path that is rarely trodden upon. there was a quiet certainty in my meditation last night and this morning, that i have very rarely felt in the past, and that certainty will lead me on to another day in active recovery. i am grateful for a program that allows me the creative freedom to approach the divine in a manner of my own choosing, and more than grateful that perhaps i can help a brother discover his own path.
what does all that mean in the here and now, because after all, today is all i really have. it means that i can move forward secure in the knowledge, that unless i choose to leave this path, my spiritual needs will be met, all i have to do, is allow that to happen. which i do believe i will. so as the holiday gorge is almost here, it is time for a quick jaunt around the neighborhood with the dawg. it is after all a good day to take care of myself.
∞ DT ∞
The views expressed on this page are solely the opinion of the author.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.
Another Look!
listening for GOD's voice within 137 words ➥ Thursday, November 25, 2004 by: donnotα contemplating my recovery α 344 words ➥ Friday, November 25, 2005 by: donnot
∞ the more i try to make my life conform to my expectations, the more uncomfortable i feel. ∞ 595 words ➥ Saturday, November 25, 2006 by: donnot
↔ as my recovery progresses, i become able to appreciate how much the quality of my life has improved. ↔ 373 words ➥ Sunday, November 25, 2007 by: donnot
∞ the more i pray and meditate, the more i experience a calm sense of well-being ∞ 459 words ➥ Tuesday, November 25, 2008 by: donnot
∞ quieting my mind through meditation brings an inner peace ∞ 689 words ➥ Thursday, November 25, 2010 by: donnot
Α in my spiritual reflection, i can intuitively find Ω 613 words ➥ Friday, November 25, 2011 by: donnot
‡ i no longer have to fear my own thoughts ‡ 598 words ➥ Sunday, November 25, 2012 by: donnot
» i will reflect upon the gift of recovery « 650 words ➥ Monday, November 25, 2013 by: donnot
∀ i am in harmony with a Power greater than myself ∀ 418 words ➥ Tuesday, November 25, 2014 by: donnot
☞ meditation ☯ 341 words ➥ Wednesday, November 25, 2015 by: donnot
⩐ i no longer ⩐ 750 words ➥ Friday, November 25, 2016 by: donnot
🌎 the God within me 🌏 452 words ➥ Saturday, November 25, 2017 by: donnot
🏔 a calm sense 🏔 592 words ➥ Sunday, November 25, 2018 by: donnot
🌋 the freedom 🎯 542 words ➥ Monday, November 25, 2019 by: donnot
🗹 my spiritual needs 🗷 538 words ➥ Wednesday, November 25, 2020 by: donnot
🙈 to listen quietly 🙊 472 words ➥ Thursday, November 25, 2021 by: donnot
😎 being myself 😎 523 words ➥ Friday, November 25, 2022 by: donnot
😌 practicing 🙄 502 words ➥ Saturday, November 25, 2023 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 2
1) A master of the art of war has said, 'I do not dare to be the host
(to commence the war); I prefer to be the guest (to act on the defensive).
I do not dare to advance an inch; I prefer to retire a foot.' This
is called marshalling the ranks where there are no ranks; baring the
arms (to fight) where there are no arms to bare; grasping the weapon
where there is no weapon to grasp; advancing against the enemy where
there is no enemy.