Post by Caressa2 on May 26, 2004 3:00:03 GMT -5
"Our understanding of a Higher Power is up to us....
We can call it the group, the program, or we can call it God."
Basic Text, p. 24
Many of us have a hard time with the idea of a Higher Power until we fully accept the depth of our own powerlessness over addiction. Once we do, most of us are at least willing to consider seeking the help of some Power greater than our disease. The first practical exposure many of us have to that kind of Power is the NA group. Perhaps that's whee we should start in developing our own understanding of God.
One evidence of the Power in the group is the unconditional love shown when NA members help one another without expectation of reward. The group's collective experience in recovery is itself a Power greater than our own, for the group has practical knowledge of what works and what doesn't. And the fact that addicts keep coming to NA meetings, day after day, is a demonstration of the presence of a Higher Power, some attractive, caring force at work that helps addicts stay clean and grow.
All these things are evidence of a Power that can be found in NA groups. When we look around with an open mind, each of us will be able to identify other signs of that Power. It doesn't matter if we call it God, a Higher Power, or anything else-just as long as we find a way to incorporate that Power into our daily lives.
Just for today: I will open my eyes and my mind to signs of a Power that exists in my NA group. I will call upon that Power to help me stay clean.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
For me the key was Power, which meant it had to have a Source. It didn't matter where it came from, what it was, as long as it was doing for me what I couldn't do alone. I had to tap into that Source to feed my Spirit, and to keep my Spirit alive, I had to be willing to give and to receive to keep the flow of energy.
It is a Resource that I need to maintain and nurture and as I grew in awareness and experience, I was surprised how many ways I could be empowered, if I was willing to be open to receive, and the blessing I received when I gave back.
We can call it the group, the program, or we can call it God."
Basic Text, p. 24
Many of us have a hard time with the idea of a Higher Power until we fully accept the depth of our own powerlessness over addiction. Once we do, most of us are at least willing to consider seeking the help of some Power greater than our disease. The first practical exposure many of us have to that kind of Power is the NA group. Perhaps that's whee we should start in developing our own understanding of God.
One evidence of the Power in the group is the unconditional love shown when NA members help one another without expectation of reward. The group's collective experience in recovery is itself a Power greater than our own, for the group has practical knowledge of what works and what doesn't. And the fact that addicts keep coming to NA meetings, day after day, is a demonstration of the presence of a Higher Power, some attractive, caring force at work that helps addicts stay clean and grow.
All these things are evidence of a Power that can be found in NA groups. When we look around with an open mind, each of us will be able to identify other signs of that Power. It doesn't matter if we call it God, a Higher Power, or anything else-just as long as we find a way to incorporate that Power into our daily lives.
Just for today: I will open my eyes and my mind to signs of a Power that exists in my NA group. I will call upon that Power to help me stay clean.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
For me the key was Power, which meant it had to have a Source. It didn't matter where it came from, what it was, as long as it was doing for me what I couldn't do alone. I had to tap into that Source to feed my Spirit, and to keep my Spirit alive, I had to be willing to give and to receive to keep the flow of energy.
It is a Resource that I need to maintain and nurture and as I grew in awareness and experience, I was surprised how many ways I could be empowered, if I was willing to be open to receive, and the blessing I received when I gave back.
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.