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 sitting in a meeting of my "other program" Sunday morning listening to the "speaker" talking about the subject of appropriate love, when the message turned a moment towards detachment. The thing he said that most stuck out to me was when he related a prayer he had heard.
"God, please help me to detach from the world, so that the world may be a better place".
My first thought when I heard that I will have to tell you came from the part of my brain that is still stuck in its old way of thinking. The part I am trying to "recondition".
That thought was.."Hmmmmmm, does that mean that if I wasn't around muddling up the world, the world would be better?". The next thought was "Does it mean if I hide myself from the worlds problems, from the unpleasant situations, from the potentially stressful people in my life, that the world would be better?".
Well in the 3-5 seconds those two thoughts ran around in my head, my program came out of idle and, literally, with a smile on my face, the answer I gave to myself was "No".
The meaning revealed to me is that when I can detach from all the "stuff" out there, the truly inconsequential, how important is it really "stuff", the world is so much more beautiful. Peace and serenity is there for me when I can remember to keep the focus off of those things that happen every day, the rude driver, the unkind word uttered by another, the drama someone might offer up for me to grab a hold of.
Detachment from those things doesn't mean that they might not have a very real consequence for me in some way. It doesn't mean that I am uncaring or cold.
It means that I can realize some things, like my powerlessness over others...even when my "old thinking" wants to jump in there and fix other peoples problems, whine about what is unjust or unfair, or commiserate with someone else having a bad day.
Detachment means I can be in the middle of all that and still find away to remain centered.
Detachment leaves my mind clear to respond appropriately to the moment, oh and of course, you guys are trying to teach me how to do that with love too!
So, that prayer is a wonderful one for me! I have been having some detachment issues lately. That you God for reminding me again to turn to You for help.
Just wanted to share my thoughts with you all!
David
-- Edited by david62 on Tuesday 14th of December 2010 07:24:31 PM
Thank you for this david, it has really helped me!
Have you ever heard the song "Make the world go away and get it off of my shoulders" think it was Jim Reeves???? I often sing that to myself, wouldnt it be nice?????
failte
-- Edited by failte on Wednesday 15th of December 2010 10:37:07 AM
What a great share! Thanks! I too struggle with detaching. I can't seem to let stuff go sometimes, I take it on and wear it around with me, allowing it to take away my power. Detaching really does mean we are powerless over others, their stuff and any outcome. I am working on that. Thank you again!!
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You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. -Buddha
The past has flown away. The coming month and year do not exsist. Ours only is the present's tiny point. -Mahmud Shabistanri
My way is an ongoing issue for me. I am so tired at the moment from working a great deal ( 2jobs +) that I don't actually have the energy to judge, obsess and have the urge to correct all that is wrong. For me that is a form of detachnment not being able to have the ongoing dialogue about the "shoulds", "woulds" and "coulds".
My first thought was, being into the Bible, my experience, was Jesus said be no part of this world.
He did not focus on politics, and imaginary boundaries, of race, greed, or religion etc. He just was a genuinely loving person! Talked of giving, sharing, talked how we are all connected and brothers. That love transends everything else. Look how he went to talk to tax collectors, Kings. He just was true to his heart, sharing his Fathers plan.
NO part of this world.
You are right David. If we all concerned outselves with the heart of things, the world would be a better place. Because that would be our focus.
I like the prayer too. To me, it's saying that if I detach from the world and attach to Higher Power instead, I bring my best to the world. Not my Self. Thanks for the reminder, David.
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The prayer isn't for Higher Power to change our lives, but rather to change us.
