The courage to change the things we can. That’s always a possibility. Maybe. Then there’s the statement. The wisdom to know the difference. One person has always said that the wisdom is based on complete honesty.
The reason this came up is that a friend of mine called me today. He was bothered by something, which happened a few years back. A statement that was kind of a legal ruling, which he felt always put him in a bad light. I guess he would think that way. The truth it seems is that it’s kind of neutral statement. One could say it might be interpreted one way or another.
Anyway, he was trying to get it straight in his mind what he should do. I had no real answer for him. Except that maybe the things we can change might just be the old statement, to leave things the well enough alone. Or when in doubt, don’t.
We talked for quite a while and I think he was getting the picture that there just might be a resentment at the basis of all of this. We talked about resentments and feeling sorry for ourselves and wanting to get even. I think that ended it.
Also the thought, a spiritual thought, Stop driving the bus. Get out of the driver’s seat and get to the back of the bus. Sit down and enjoy the ride. In other words stop trying to arrange or control things. Our lives were unmanageable. The First Step. Always be ready to surrender.
The bottom line is that it brought him back to the word “love”. It was about our children. I say “our” because I know what he was saying and feeling. I think he was ready to let go and let God.
I could identify with his thinking. Typical alcoholic. Always wanting to control the situations in our lives, when they often should be left alone. Having hope and faith in our Higher Power. Trust.
Anyway I had a dozen thoughts in my head and didn’t know which was which and then the thought of my friend came back. Resentments and control. And the spiritual guide I was given years ago by those old timers. Let go and let God. I need to remember that often during any given day. It’s been an essential part of my sobriety and I never want to forget that.