It’s been ten days or more since I was able to get to a meeting. Chalk it up to the flu. I have been thinking about this for days now and almost took the step to get back, but knew that was not wise, for me or for anyone else. I called another friend this morning and he’s got it. But, all is not lost. I have been in contact with others all but two or three days, when I was not able to answer the phone or write emails. By the way, I did have a flu shot and I have to think that whoever made this stuff up missed this variety. When I get better, I may hunt them down and…(none of us are perfect)
We all have times when we’re not able to get to a meeting for a period of time. Whether it’s due to circumstances or our attitudes. The question then is what do we do? That is, if we want to stay sober.
We all know that missing meetings can do a lot to affect our attitudes. The lack of being in the presence of people like us can cut us off from that up close and personal exchange of ideas and information so essential to keeping us on track on a daily basis. Over a period of time, all of us tend to close our minds and start to fold in on ourselves. I’ve seen people, who get so cut off that they return to extreme self centeredness and resist all contact with others. I’ve been there myself. When that happens it takes another bottom to turn this around. It’s an extremely perilous place. It’s also painful.
Sandy B. once said that if you want to punish someone, pray that they become self centered. That should do it.
And that’s the point. How can we stay out of ourselves? It’s obvious. Think of others. Reach out to others. Help others in whatever way we can, always keeping in mind our primary purpose and God’s will for us. Prayer and meditation. Maintaining that concious contact and asking for God’s will on a daily basis. Reading the literature with an open mind and being willing to learn what it is we must do to continue on this path.
We can all say, “I know that.” And it’s true, that we do. But if we don’t keep this all in practice daily, when the time comes we may not think of any of this, or we may just pull back from it and turn our faces away. We may just convince ourselves that we’re able to do this ourselves. I can’t tell you how many I’ve known who have gone this way. And then we forget the fatal nature of this disease and just how powerless we really are. We are all subject to our own minds, without the help of God and those, who remain active in this program.
I’m grateful to each and everyone of you, who allow me to contact you as often as I do. Thanks.
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