Post by Caressa2 on May 12, 2004 3:48:58 GMT -5
"For meditation to be of value, the results must show in our daily lives."
Basic Text, p. 46
In working our program, we are given many indirect indications of a Higher Power's presence in our lives; the clean feeling that comes to so many of us in taking our Fifth Step; the sense that we are finally on the right track when we make amends; the satisfaction we get from helping another addict. Meditation, however, occasionally brings us extraordinary indicators of God's presence in our lives. These experiences do not mean we have become perfect or that we are "cured." They are tastes given us of the source of our recovery itself, reminding us of the true nature of the things we are pursuing in Narcotics Anonymous and encouraging us to continue walking our spiritual path.
Such experiences demonstrate, in no uncertain terms, that we have tapped a Power far greater than our own. But how do we incorporate that extraordinary Power into our ordinary lives? Our NA friends, our sponsor, and others in our communities may be more seasoned in spiritual matters than we are. If we ask, they can help us fit our spiritual experiences into the natural pattern of recovery and spiritual growth.
Just for today: I will seek whatever answers I may need to understand my spiritual experiences and incorporate them into my daily life.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
A spiritual experience for me was when I went to spend a holiday with a long time friend about five years ago. The first guy I had coffee with in AA. He had been in an out of the program for years, but at that time he had ten months sober and to my knowledge clean. He asked me to join him at his sister's cottage which turned out to be a mid 1800 renovated log cabin which was to become their retirement home. It was on 190 acres of land with 600 feet of waterfront and the birds, butterflies, racoons, squirrels and my favorite, the hummingbirds and chipmunks where a joy to watch.
The place in itself was very spiritual and I had ten days of fun, frolic and food in the sunshine, I didn't have to cook one meal, all I did was make two potato salads, and was spoiled rotten. I had my own room which had bedding in my favorite colour, forest green sheets and the comforter and curtains were green and maroon.
The real clincher was being able to sit with his sister who was a statistition with the Canadian Government, her sister-in-law was a nurse, and his brother-in-law and his brothers were both Royal Canadian Mounted Police who from their conversation and been in service around the world. The thought that this sick recovering addict, who had become completely introverted and had lost her sense of self, was able to sit there and feel totally comfortable in her own skin. It didn't matter if they accepted me or not, I accepted me for who I was in the moment. His sister and I were instant Soul Mates.
I was away for twelve days without any meetings. His sister was a social drinker. She would have a glass of white wine sitting on the table, and it started to drive me crazy. I was beginning to notice the bubbles and the sweat on the bottle. I wanted her to hurry up and drink it before it went flat!!! I said to my friend, "I can't wait to get home to get to a meeting!" This has been a good time, but I need to go home. When I got off the train to transfer to the Go-Bus to come home, a girl from NA was standing on the platform waiting to get on and I got a hug. At the bus terminal waiting for the same bus was a guy who went to the morning meetings I put on and had taken a holiday from doing seven meetings in six days. It didn't matter that I was tired when I went home, I went to a meeting that night.
Basic Text, p. 46
In working our program, we are given many indirect indications of a Higher Power's presence in our lives; the clean feeling that comes to so many of us in taking our Fifth Step; the sense that we are finally on the right track when we make amends; the satisfaction we get from helping another addict. Meditation, however, occasionally brings us extraordinary indicators of God's presence in our lives. These experiences do not mean we have become perfect or that we are "cured." They are tastes given us of the source of our recovery itself, reminding us of the true nature of the things we are pursuing in Narcotics Anonymous and encouraging us to continue walking our spiritual path.
Such experiences demonstrate, in no uncertain terms, that we have tapped a Power far greater than our own. But how do we incorporate that extraordinary Power into our ordinary lives? Our NA friends, our sponsor, and others in our communities may be more seasoned in spiritual matters than we are. If we ask, they can help us fit our spiritual experiences into the natural pattern of recovery and spiritual growth.
Just for today: I will seek whatever answers I may need to understand my spiritual experiences and incorporate them into my daily life.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
A spiritual experience for me was when I went to spend a holiday with a long time friend about five years ago. The first guy I had coffee with in AA. He had been in an out of the program for years, but at that time he had ten months sober and to my knowledge clean. He asked me to join him at his sister's cottage which turned out to be a mid 1800 renovated log cabin which was to become their retirement home. It was on 190 acres of land with 600 feet of waterfront and the birds, butterflies, racoons, squirrels and my favorite, the hummingbirds and chipmunks where a joy to watch.
The place in itself was very spiritual and I had ten days of fun, frolic and food in the sunshine, I didn't have to cook one meal, all I did was make two potato salads, and was spoiled rotten. I had my own room which had bedding in my favorite colour, forest green sheets and the comforter and curtains were green and maroon.
The real clincher was being able to sit with his sister who was a statistition with the Canadian Government, her sister-in-law was a nurse, and his brother-in-law and his brothers were both Royal Canadian Mounted Police who from their conversation and been in service around the world. The thought that this sick recovering addict, who had become completely introverted and had lost her sense of self, was able to sit there and feel totally comfortable in her own skin. It didn't matter if they accepted me or not, I accepted me for who I was in the moment. His sister and I were instant Soul Mates.
I was away for twelve days without any meetings. His sister was a social drinker. She would have a glass of white wine sitting on the table, and it started to drive me crazy. I was beginning to notice the bubbles and the sweat on the bottle. I wanted her to hurry up and drink it before it went flat!!! I said to my friend, "I can't wait to get home to get to a meeting!" This has been a good time, but I need to go home. When I got off the train to transfer to the Go-Bus to come home, a girl from NA was standing on the platform waiting to get on and I got a hug. At the bus terminal waiting for the same bus was a guy who went to the morning meetings I put on and had taken a holiday from doing seven meetings in six days. It didn't matter that I was tired when I went home, I went to a meeting that night.
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.