False Unity

 One of the reasons that people tend to imbibe alcohol is to feel a sense of camaraderie, a feeling of unity with those around them.  But what it often does is cover over our attention to the fact that we are drinking too much.  Such people often wake up with a sense of “how did that happen?” The feeling of having drunk too much the day before or a few hours before comes too late to prevent the hangover.  Feeling normal in a room of people at a social event can be a task, so I try to feel normal within myself earlier in the day through some spiritual tools such as meditation or reading some spiritual pointers.  Drinking does not do much for the heart.  

Compare An Despair

 Too often we tend to “compare and despair.”  We see something that we lack or think we lack and wish we had it.  That other person is better in some way that we envy or wish for ourself.  So I try to remind  myself to look into my spiritual tool box for some humility.  The other person or situation is a call for me to have some humility.  From humility I can have a better day.  Shame won’t do it.  Regret won’t do it.  Humility takes far less energy than envy, shame and regret.  I accept where I am now, but I can make a change from my reality.  I can grow from here in my spiritual life and write this simple blog.  

Reread

 I save books that help me to be a better person, to grow from within.  I underline in the book and write in the margins.  I put the book aside.  But in time I pick it up and “reread” the book, especially the underlinings.  Often, I find that, “Oh, I forgot that,” or I see something from a different perspective because I have changed in my own growth.  Let other people read your novel collection.  Keep the stuff that changes you for the better.  And work on remembering.  Maybe a treasure box with quotes you got from readings, that you can check more regularly.  

Certain

 Be certain that things are fixed and finished.  No future study.  No open to discovery of more or other.  This is fundamentalism.  It keeps one from having discussions or from listening or being open.  I like the recovery program model.  It is suggestions that have worked for many.  It has a track record, but still it is suggestions.  And it is always open to learning more from modern science and research.  Evangelization, at its best, invites people to take a look or to consider.  Differences are not the problem.  Open listening is a way to stay in touch with differences.  

The Umbrella

 To skip morning spiritual practice because you feel pretty good is like going out on a cloudy morning without your umbrella because it is not raining at the moment.  Though it is predicted to rain later.  I did both today so dump my blogs.  I am all wet spiritually and physically.  Clothes hanging here and there to dry off, paper toweling in my shoes are the results of no umbrella.  Just because things are going well at the moment is no reason to skip spiritual practice.  Early practice prepares for later events, expected or unexpected, in the day.  I just read a psalm today that said the rain ought to bless and praise God.  Well, it did.  

The Purpose

 I meet people now and again in my daily life who tell me that they have found God or a Power other than themself who has saved them from their miserable, maybe addicted, life.  I ask them how did this God or Power do that?  Whatever they did to get free, I then ask them “For what purpose did this God free you?”  They might talk about bring a better worker, or just having a job, being a better parent or spouse, and better this and that.  Occasionally someone will say, “So that I could help others who were suffering as I was.”  Sobriety is not just about being a better person.  Your Power did this so you could be of service to other addicts like yourself.  In religion it is called, Evangelization.  

the Spectator

As a spectator you are watching something, listening to something, and there are others with you, or in the same physical space, who are doing the same thing.  Think of a sporting event or a symphony, or a lecture.  You might think you are a “we” because you all had the experience of spectator, student, fan.  But then how much more are you connected to those same people with whom you sit, when the event is over and you leave?  Not much?  Then you are not a “we.”  Sobriety and worship are not spectator events.  To the extent that you participate, if you are not drawing into relationship with others there, you are missing out on the importance of “we” to a spiritual growth. It is a bit like saying you live in a “neighborhood,” but don’t know any of your neighbors.  People come to meetings so that they don’t drink.  Then they leave, talk to no one.  They don’t drink, but they don’t become spiritually fit.  They don’t connect with others in the room except as an identity, “recovering alcoholic.”  Recovery is a lot more than not drinking.