The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I was wondering if any other newbies are having a little trouble getting used to the term 'HP'. I just say God, but I understand that this doesn't work for everyone.
When I see 'HP' in a post I first think of Harry Potter, and then Hewlitt Packard
Cute...for me a higher power can be a "God" image but I tend to have problems with that. When I think of God in a human image (you know an old man with a white beard etc.) I find myself getting upset with him (or her) when bad things happen, as if he's failed me. Higher Power gives me an image of a source of flowing love and energy that I can tap into, or ride the current. A little less personal but for me, now, an easier image to rectify with. I struggle alot with this and tend to often not believe. A relationship? Nowhere close right now. "God as we understand him" for me right now is that higher power image. I can't have relationship with a river, but I can get water, fish etc. from it and ride it to other destinations...that's what happening for me right now.
Harry Potter too funny! I know my HP is God and sometimes I will qualify that in my post. I also know that my God isn't everyone's HP. As we are world wide and everyone has different beliefs I use HP out of respect for whoever ofwhatever someone esles HP is. But that is just my take on it.
That is too funny. I never thought of it that way, and I will be smiling at my printer every time I look at it now. I like the use of HP. Actually it was the only thing I could really understand about AlAnon when I first started. There are not many organizations or places in the world where everyone involved can respect each other's right to have any belief and not only that but help to foster a belief without it having to be a particular one. That alone seems like a miracle to me when I look around at the world today. Thanks for the smile!
Too funny!! intended or not just so right on!! There may come a time when you will meet others in the program who will try to bring you over to their understanding of God and will work mightily at doing it. Anyone ever had that happen to them? I have and mostly it was not good for them either because I come from a theologian back ground education... LOL think grabbing a ferret by the tail. I'm glad that today our understandings of HP don't get in the way of our love and support of each other.
(((((hugs)))))
-- Edited by Jerry F on Monday 30th of August 2010 01:10:29 PM
Well said as always Jerry; Alanon is a spiritual program(non denomination)
I had a difficult time with the last Alanon group online, many were born again Christians, trying to convert and if you didnt believe their way, you were an outcast. I know I do mention my Buddhism, not to convert anybody, but to convey how I was able to integrate the two and where it wasnt too difficult, because it doesnt contrast too much with the Alanon philosophy. I know there is a fine line there of how much I can say. I dont believe in the concept of a God thats outside of yourself. It has been my experience that if you dont recognize God as everyone else , some people are intimidated. Thats why this board is a great learning experience, it is Acceptance, if we cant accept eachother, we cant do Alanon.
The HP is whatever you call it, God, force, Energy Universe, what ever brings you to a higher state of being.
