A few friends of mine are going through some pretty tough stuff. Reminded me of a couple of things. One was the old saying that when the going gets rough the tough get going. The other was what my old sponsor told us, Grind, baby, grind.
Looking back through the time I have spent in my sobriety, I can say that like my friends I have had my rough times. That’s life. All of us are going to have our bumps in the road from time to time. The question is, can we go through what we’re going through and stay sober, or will we buckle under and take that next drink. And that’s where the Steps and the spiritual way of life come into play.
One of the things which helped me through the bumps in the road were meetings and the support I received from my sponsor and friends in this program. A lot of support. Always reminds me of the Fifth Tradition. The group’s primary purpose to carry the message to the alcoholic, who still suffers. And the message is that the answer to our suffering is always spiritual. We all go through our periods of “suffering”. Question always is how will I react to these things?
Talking to a couple of my friends, who are definitely suffering, they mentioned their prayers and meditations. The Eleventh Step. I’m always reminded of the Second Step, when it comes to the spiritual life. That’s always been what opened the door for this drunk to the program and began the changes necessary for me to continue to stay sober.
Of course one of the things I knew I had to do was not just sharing my troubles with my Higher Power. I had to also talk to others in this program and share and then listen to what they said to me. Like grind, baby, grind. I laugh, when I say that, because I know he shared a lot of help with me and then gave me a push to get me going in the right direction. Like grinding. Or, putting it in another way, moving along this path to sobriety despite what’s going on.
For me I have found that no matter what my problems that the answer was always spiritual. A definite reminder of what the BB said. The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. Despite what’s tending to try to distract me, I know I have to remember that. And looking at what’s happened in my life, it still has showed the results of the hope I have been given in this program. And that’s faith and trust in my Higher Power. Never want to forget what it is that works.
Anyway, all these friends are in my thoughts and prayers. Just thinking.