12.25.07

One night, when confined in a hospital, he was approached by an alcoholic who had known a spiritual experience. Our friend's gore rose as he bitterly cried out: "If there is a God, He certainly hasn't done anything for me!" But later, alone in his room, he asked himself this question: "Is it possible that all the religious people I have known are wrong?" While pondering the answer he felt as though he lived in hell. Then, like a thunderbolt, a great thought came. It crowded out all else:

"Who are you to say there is no God?"

This man recounts that he tumble out of bed to his knees. In a few seconds he was overwhelmed by a conviction of the Presence of God. It poured over and through him with the certainty and majesty of a great tide at flood. The barriers he had built through the years were swept away. He stood in the Presence of Infinite Power and Love. He had stepped from bridge to shore. For the first time, he lived in conscious companionship with his Creator. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 63.

Today I am grateful...

• that I got to substitute chair the noon meeting yesterday, a step study of the third step. As I sat there, I was bombarded with the sound of the Serenity Prayer being spoken in unison by the 50 or so people in attendance. It was so powerful, and loud. My new hearing at work there.
• for the power present in that meeting and that someone shared that he was angry with all us, with AA and he just might drink. He was surrounded after the meeting.
• for fellowship afterwards and my long chat with Negar about life, sobriety, God, her baby that is to arrive in January
• that I have not once had a Bah Humbug thought about Christmas this year
• that last night I dreamt I was in NYC and attending meetings, then after waking for a bathroom break dreamt about running into a tech from rehab that remembered me and wondered how I was. I was able to show them my 4 year chip.
• to be free of the bondage of self, alcohol, nicotine, judgement and food. I am not completely free of the self, judgement and food things, but am working on those.
• to have what I want and want what I have
• for wishes for you to have a Merry Christmas

None of us can ever fathom the glories and uncharted regions of the universe. But we can live on earth and love one another. We can let the beginnings of concern, compassion, consideration, and watch ourselves grow. With the tools and guideposts of Alcoholics Anonymous, we can learn a little of this precious gift -- our gateway to human spirituality. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 120