Funny how I was thinking of one this program’s old friends, the Rev. Dr. Sam Shoemaker, who stuck with and supported Bill W. and Lois, after they had been separated from the Oxford Group. And the reason he came to mind was that I was talking to an old friend out of state and we were talking about a lot of things from the past.
One of the things we were talking about was the Twelfth Step and having compassion and helping others, when possible. And that’s where Rev. Shoemaker came in. I think he was the one, when talking about committing to this program and getting sober, he compared it to a train station. He said there we all are standing around on the platform and the train is sitting there waiting to leave. We’re all talking to one another but not moving toward the train. His point was that nothing is going to happen until we step off the platform and onto the train. Then he said our job was to take a seat and sit and look out the window and admire the scenery, as the train moves off.
Of course he was talking about surrendering to this program and the First Step. And then picking up the rest of the Steps and putting them into action in our lives. And changing from that drunk to a sober individual. Admiring the scenery. Living a spiritual way of life.
And that reminded me of something else I was thinking about today. Meditation. To me that’s taking a spiritual thought and following it through until we arrive at a conclusion and a prayer of commitment of some sort. I was thinking about the method called Safe Harbor. We start off on the river and let the boat float downstream until we come ashore. Safe harbor. The ending conclusion to our thoughts. I guess what I was just thinking kind of fell into that.
Anyway just going back and thinking about why I came here in the first place. Finally surrendered and got on the train and been looking out the window ever since. Lots of friends sitting around with me. We’re sober and trying to live a spiritual way of life and grow along spiritual lines. Grateful for all we have been given and willing to pass it along to others like ourselves, if they want it.