I was reminded yesterday about something I often don’t really think about, but should. And that’s what’s going on within me. I also think that if I wanted to find out, I probably really can’t do that by myself. I not only need the help of my Higher Power, but I also need the help of someone like a sponsor or an old friend in here to locate what it is.
This was the result of reading a few sentences written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I had to stop and think about what he had said, because it made a lot of sense. Rather than being torn up by what I feel is going on around me, I need to do what my sponsor would tell me. To take a deep breath and step back and be quiet, when I feel upset. And, when I would do that, things would begin to calm down within.
Emerson said that what lies behind us and before us are small when compared to what lies within us. Talk about a spiritual view of each one of us. And I have to think he is absolutely right.
I was talking to a couple of people about this yesterday and today and they agreed. I’m sure that it isn’t anything we ordinarily think about, but just stopping and thinking about it now it begins to make sense. Those I talked to said that, when they thought about it was true, as far as they could see. That often what disturbed them would vanish over time and that it almost wore them out, but really wasn’t worth it.
However what is going on within us is different, especially if I’m doing what this program asks me to do. That is to begin to and to continue to live a spiritual way of life in here. When I think back to what my sponsor told me to do, I can see the value of Emerson’s statement. I may not know exactly what it is that is in there, except the presence of my Higher Power.
One of the things I remember being instructed to do early on was to begin to practice perseverance, then placing hope within me, followed by faith, and then love. To continue then to maintain these three by persevering and never letting go. Those alone, when I stop and think about it, are qualities deep within me, if I’m doing what I need to do, and they are there to calm me and to help me to maintain this way of life I know I need each and everyday.
So I thought I’d stop and just allow my thoughts to lead me to where I just arrived. Hope, faith, and love, what this program is all about. Starting with the hope, which helped me to turn to the God of my understanding and surrender to my being powerless over alcohol. And then when I was freed, to begin to have faith and to practice this program and change. And then to begin to practice love in the form of compassion for alcoholics like myself and to carry the message that this program works, if they want it.
In other words to live and practice the spiritual principles of this program each and everyday. To have hope and faith in my Higher Power that He will do for me what it is I cannot do for myself. To stay sober each and everyday in here. And to allow others to help me to do what I need to do, which helps me to stay sober. And for me to do the same for others like myself. To be grateful for what I have received. And I am.