A.A. Thought for the Day Continuing the consideration of the term spiritual experience: "What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished by years of self discipline. With few exceptions, our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves. Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves the essence of spiritual experience. Some of us call it God consciousness. In any case, willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery." Have I tapped that inner resource which can change my life? ######ROSIE....growing up i was taught about, some by word, lots by example that God was remote/ punitive/ uncaring/ far off and unavailble/ someone not to cross/ i thought God was a bigger/ badder rendition of my abuser.........needless to say i grew up hating/fearing/distrusting this god.....i wanted nothing to do with it....the doctrines of the churches i attended made it worse!!!! one soul in the church told me that unless i had **compassion for my perp* i would not make it to heaven!!!! so i left the church-----i closed my mind to God!!! read the bible with all the promises that never came true for me , so i put it away, those promises were for the **afterlife* i deduced!!! not until i came into recovery would i again **open my mind to a god* at first it was the program..the people....the principles....and my being **willing* **open* to a diferent persepctive......i learned that i had to **fall in love with me first* before i could find love outside....i learned (went back to my amer. indian roots) that i must look **within* for my god.....that the **source, aka great spirit* works from withIN me.....this is why i couldn't tap into it till now.....i had my **foot on the garden hose of my own spirituality*......no wonder the universe wasn't seemingly working for me.....i was clogged with hate/ resentment/ narrow mindedness/ .....soon as i became willing...thats all i had to do was to say "i am willing" the universe took over the rest.....i have my **christ within* and i stop...breathe....relax....listen.....quiet myself down, so i can **hear the messages* and it is there......"ask and ye shall receive" i **asked* for knowledge of my HP....first it manafested itself in the structure of the program.......than, i opened up my heart/ my mind and i found it within me.......... Meditation for the Day God's power in your life increases as your ability to understand His grace increases. The power of God's grace is only limited by the understanding and will of each individual. God's miracle-working power is only limited in each individual soul by the lack of spiritual vision of that soul. God respects free will, the right of each person to accept or reject His miracle-working power. Only the sincere desire of the soul gives Him the opportunity to bestow it. #######ROSIE.....my take on this is YES, i can do a lot to change my **karma* however i believe i have a **life chart* some stuff is not going to change because it is **in my chart* for example .....if i am to get into a car wreck, (god forbid) my choices/ my paying attention/ making sure my seat belt is on/ making sure my ins. payments are current, making sure my brakes are in optimum condition......i can modify that **wreck* into a **excuse me--bumber thumper*.......i think i can modify my chart....but i know **whats gonna be will be* like doris day sang "que sera sera" **what will be will be* however by my choices/ taking care of me/ being prepared for contingencies/ regular doctor checkups/ being reasonable cautious and careful.....i can **modify* some of the unpleasent things that come up......**s*** happens....its how prepared i am ....and how i deal with it that counts.... Prayer for the Day I pray that I may not limit God's power by my lack of vision. I pray that I may keep my mind open today to His influence. ########ROSIE.....i pray i stay in alignment with my HP, and also i am cooperating to the best of my abillity to maximize the positive----minimize the negative.....thank you, DONE.....