Blog entry for:
Mon, Feb 14, 2005 05:37:26 AM
borrowing a HIGHER POWER???
posted: Mon, Feb 14, 2005 05:37:26 AM
one of the most disturbing ’clichés’ that i have heard thrown around the rooms is, ’Don’t have a Higher Power? Borrow mine!’ although until recently i could not say why this bothered me, only that it did. this morning’s reading zeroed in on my feelings and supported that conclusion.
i know that had i used my sponsor’s HIGHER POWER when i started the process of discovering my spirituality i would have kept it whether it worked for me or not. i was so desperate to fit in and be accepted that i would not have seen fit to grow in any direction. and believe me when i got here all i wanted to do was fit in somewhere! i am grateful today that my first sponsor was wise enough and patient enough with me in those early days to force me to find something that worked for me. although the process of discovering GOD was not easy nor without missteps, the fact is that i did find a HIGHER POWER that works for me and have the freedom to allow my understanding of that concept to morph and change as needed throughout the my journey.
recently one of the men i am sponsoring has decided that his concept was not working, he felt hurt that i would not lend him mine. my reply was to do his 2nd step and we would talk about my concept on the other side of his exploration. he seemed confused by my reticence to talk about GOD as i understand the concept, but grudgingly accepted that perhaps i may be correct in this matter. i am more than willing to talk about what and how i believe GOD's love and care is manifested in my life, but like me, he needs to begin the journey without knowledge of what i believe, so that he too may come to discover who and what GOD is to him. his journey is not mine and when he crosses the threshold into discovering for himself what may or may not work for him, i will talk at length to him about what and how i see GOD today. of course it will really disturb my sponsee when i tell him that this like everything else i have come to understand is subject to revision.
∞ DT ∞
i know that had i used my sponsor’s HIGHER POWER when i started the process of discovering my spirituality i would have kept it whether it worked for me or not. i was so desperate to fit in and be accepted that i would not have seen fit to grow in any direction. and believe me when i got here all i wanted to do was fit in somewhere! i am grateful today that my first sponsor was wise enough and patient enough with me in those early days to force me to find something that worked for me. although the process of discovering GOD was not easy nor without missteps, the fact is that i did find a HIGHER POWER that works for me and have the freedom to allow my understanding of that concept to morph and change as needed throughout the my journey.
recently one of the men i am sponsoring has decided that his concept was not working, he felt hurt that i would not lend him mine. my reply was to do his 2nd step and we would talk about my concept on the other side of his exploration. he seemed confused by my reticence to talk about GOD as i understand the concept, but grudgingly accepted that perhaps i may be correct in this matter. i am more than willing to talk about what and how i believe GOD's love and care is manifested in my life, but like me, he needs to begin the journey without knowledge of what i believe, so that he too may come to discover who and what GOD is to him. his journey is not mine and when he crosses the threshold into discovering for himself what may or may not work for him, i will talk at length to him about what and how i see GOD today. of course it will really disturb my sponsee when i tell him that this like everything else i have come to understand is subject to revision.
∞ 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!
α understanding the Power that will carry me through my recovery α 463 words ➥ Tuesday, February 14, 2006 by: donnotα a borrowed understanding of God may do on a short haul. BUT in the long run, Ω 539 words ➥ Wednesday, February 14, 2007 by: donnot
∞ it would be easy to **go with the flow,** adopting the beliefs of someone else. ∞ 690 words ➥ Thursday, February 14, 2008 by: donnot
α what kind of HIGHER POWER do i seek? with an answer to this question ω 478 words ➥ Saturday, February 14, 2009 by: donnot
α i must honestly search for an understanding of a HIGHER POWER ω 459 words ➥ Sunday, February 14, 2010 by: donnot
∞ the right to a HIGHER POWER of my understanding is total ∞ 629 words ➥ Monday, February 14, 2011 by: donnot
ℵ today, i will examine my beliefs honestly and ℵ 725 words ➥ Tuesday, February 14, 2012 by: donnot
∞ i am coming to understand the POWER that fuels my recovery ∞ 589 words ➥ Thursday, February 14, 2013 by: donnot
∫ i seek a POWER TO FUEL MY RECOVERY, that can help me grow spiritually. ∫ 455 words ➥ Friday, February 14, 2014 by: donnot
» on honesty and spirituality » 632 words ➥ Saturday, February 14, 2015 by: donnot
⇗ because i have THE right ⇖ 638 words ➥ Sunday, February 14, 2016 by: donnot
☯ an understanding ♈ 702 words ➥ Tuesday, February 14, 2017 by: donnot
🐍 a borrowed understanding 🐊 602 words ➥ Wednesday, February 14, 2018 by: donnot
🥀 going with the flow ☯ 555 words ➥ Thursday, February 14, 2019 by: donnot
🍎 total and without any catches. 🐍 808 words ➥ Friday, February 14, 2020 by: donnot
☯ honestly searching ✌ 357 words ➥ Sunday, February 14, 2021 by: donnot
🤨 no one else*s 🤫 361 words ➥ Monday, February 14, 2022 by: donnot
🌝 a POWER 🌞 534 words ➥ Tuesday, February 14, 2023 by: donnot
🌫 selflessness 🌫 442 words ➥ Wednesday, February 14, 2024 by: donnot
☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 1
1) When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a
(previous) expiration; when he is going to weaken another, he will
first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow another, he will
first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil another, he
will first have made gifts to him:--this is called 'Hiding the light
(of his procedure).'