Post by godsjem on Oct 1, 2012 8:50:16 GMT -5
It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. AA Big Book page 85.
I always thought resting on laurels meant sitting on my but. Actually the phrase originated from other things than that.
[" The Greeks gave a wreath of laurels to the victor in the Pythian Games, but the victor in the Olympic Games had a wreath of wild olives, in the Nemean Games a wreath of green parsley, and in the Isthmian Games a wreath of dry parsley or green pine leaves.
The laurel in modern times is a symbol of victor and peace and of excellence in literature and the arts. In Christian art St Gudule, patron saint of Brussels, carries a laurel crown."
The same work of reference explains 'to rest on one's laurels' thus:
"To be satisfied with the degree of success one has already achieved and to refrain from further effort."
For the sake of completeness, 'to look to one's laurels' means "to be on one's guard against rivals; to endeavor to maintain one's lead in a field in which one has already excelled ."] au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061015032650AA4Q9W4
On another site I found some further comments:
Webster states that "to rest on your laurels" is to be satisfied with your success and do nothing to improve on it.
Page 85 of The Big Book goes on to warn us that if we rest on our laurels we are
“headed for trouble if we do because alcohol is a subtle foe...”
Subtle definition: slight: slight and not obvious.
Foe definition: enemy: an enemy or opponent of somebody or something.
So if we look at that, that would mean that alcohol is a sneaky enemy, ready to pounce if we are not aware, and alert. Reading on we learn that we are not cured of alcoholism, but rather that we have
"a daily reprieve, contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.”
Whoa, that’s a mouthful! But what does it mean?
Reprieve definition: stopping or postponement of punishment; respite from something harmful: a relief from something harmful, especially danger or pain.
When we look at the definition, clearly “reprieve” is a pretty strong word. In the book it says that "for an alcoholic to drink is to die." I don’t think the words in the Big Book were chosen lightly.
Contingent definition: possible but not certain: possible, but not certain to happen.
Maintenance definition: work that is done regularly to keep something in good condition and working order
So we have to do maintenance on our spiritual life everyday in order to get that daily reprieve from our obsession. www.soberliving.com/blog/real-recovery-with-gina-f-1
I originally wrote this post with some more comments but I guess it wasn't meant to be lol. I lost all of the whole post I was about to submit just before I posted it. ha ha ha Guess any comments I can make will have to be for another day.
I always thought resting on laurels meant sitting on my but. Actually the phrase originated from other things than that.
[" The Greeks gave a wreath of laurels to the victor in the Pythian Games, but the victor in the Olympic Games had a wreath of wild olives, in the Nemean Games a wreath of green parsley, and in the Isthmian Games a wreath of dry parsley or green pine leaves.
The laurel in modern times is a symbol of victor and peace and of excellence in literature and the arts. In Christian art St Gudule, patron saint of Brussels, carries a laurel crown."
The same work of reference explains 'to rest on one's laurels' thus:
"To be satisfied with the degree of success one has already achieved and to refrain from further effort."
For the sake of completeness, 'to look to one's laurels' means "to be on one's guard against rivals; to endeavor to maintain one's lead in a field in which one has already excelled ."] au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061015032650AA4Q9W4
On another site I found some further comments:
Webster states that "to rest on your laurels" is to be satisfied with your success and do nothing to improve on it.
Page 85 of The Big Book goes on to warn us that if we rest on our laurels we are
“headed for trouble if we do because alcohol is a subtle foe...”
Subtle definition: slight: slight and not obvious.
Foe definition: enemy: an enemy or opponent of somebody or something.
So if we look at that, that would mean that alcohol is a sneaky enemy, ready to pounce if we are not aware, and alert. Reading on we learn that we are not cured of alcoholism, but rather that we have
"a daily reprieve, contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.”
Whoa, that’s a mouthful! But what does it mean?
Reprieve definition: stopping or postponement of punishment; respite from something harmful: a relief from something harmful, especially danger or pain.
When we look at the definition, clearly “reprieve” is a pretty strong word. In the book it says that "for an alcoholic to drink is to die." I don’t think the words in the Big Book were chosen lightly.
Contingent definition: possible but not certain: possible, but not certain to happen.
Maintenance definition: work that is done regularly to keep something in good condition and working order
So we have to do maintenance on our spiritual life everyday in order to get that daily reprieve from our obsession. www.soberliving.com/blog/real-recovery-with-gina-f-1
I originally wrote this post with some more comments but I guess it wasn't meant to be lol. I lost all of the whole post I was about to submit just before I posted it. ha ha ha Guess any comments I can make will have to be for another day.
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.