When I read your title I immediately had an idea of what you meant. I understand the progression of your thought process.

Although I think some of us codependents might get a bit confused at the 'Saint' part, because so many of us already think we are. In fact, that used to be my nickname among my ex-AH's drinking buddies. How do I make sure I don't fall back into martyrdom? I guess I just have a hard time, swinging from doing right by myself, to letting others make me feel guilty for it, and then trying to be all-compassionate and compromising myself again. 

At times I am totally in sync with being as loving towards myself as I am towards others, and at those times I think I get what you mean. 

AMEN to that!

I agree 100%. I always tell myself that I work two programs the Alanon program and the "God" program. They really are two in the same.

I try hard to practice keeping my HP at the center of my life. I can hardly type that sentence out because I am soooo very far off base with that! lol, but thank goodness, . that my HP is full of Forgiveness. For me that is how I ground myself, I remember that no matter good I try to be I am still far from perfect. Yet at the same time encouraged because practice (and forgiveness for failing)  makes progress. And looking to my HP gives me peace.

I think that bringing that concept of sacrifice (with love not pride) is how we learn to be saints on earth. My goal is to learn to sacrifice my time, energy, ESH to whomever my HP happens to take me to or bring into my life. Sometimes it is just a look of support because that is all the energy I have at the moment, sometimes its a hug, most of the time is is posting. I am blessed to have received so much support that I am honored to share my good thoughts prayers and actions with others.

Thanks for posting and sharing - the world can use more Saints like you.

I have read this post a good number of times and I am not finding anything that would suggest that the original poster was "promoting" their religion.  Nor do I see where they were promoting "Christianity" as a religion.

I would agree that "My higher power" or "God, as I understand him" would better serve both the commonalities and differences of spiritual beliefs or values.  Opposed to merely using the word "God", as it does have a variety of meanings to a variety of people and we should avoid trying to impose our beliefs in that regard on others.  However, in the totality of all things considered, I don't believe using the word "God" in this post should be construed as being a promotion of any specific "religion".  Keeping in mind that the word "God" is used in the 12 Steps 4 times, but with a equalizing standard... "as we understood him" in step three. Indicating that collectively they found the ground they could stand on together, found the commonality and over looked the differences for the sake of all who joined AA or Al-Anon in the early days.  Today, we still try to do the same and work or learn from the collective wisdom of the whole, not the singular individual's self proclaimed righteousness.  Spiritual intoxication is as dangerous to us as individuals as having no spiritual light at all, in my personal opinion, based on my own personal experience and what I have witnessed others experience over the years.  Together, collectively however, we all carry our own individual candle, and in a dark place, as each one gets lit, the darkest gives way to the light that we collectively hold and enjoy as a whole. My candle is no brighter than any one else's, nor is any one else any brighter than mine.  In a dark stadium, one candle, no matter how vibrant the light it radiates. will light up any space outside the parameter of the holder, but when everyone in it lights and holds up their candle, the stadium's darkest gives way to the collective light from everyone with a candle.

Now on another note, the word Jesus, the word Christian or Christianity is not used in this post.  Doing so would be indicative of organized religious promotion, in a very specific way.  When the word Jehovah is used in relation to shares about something, it is pointing directly at a specific organized religious entity.  Just as non christian's would view the word Jesus as a specific indicator of religious leaning, so do people see the word Jehovah as a specific leaning towards a organized religious entity.  Just as the words "Muhammad" or "Allah" would indicate a specific leaning towards Islamic beliefs specifically.  The word "God" can be all encompassing, for the whole range of values and beliefs expressed by members.  Even non believers have the ability to define that word as "Good Orderly Direction", Great Opportunities Delivered, (or Denied), etc.  In my opinion, even the steadfast, strong atheist that proclaims "I don't believe in God", has to hold on to the concept that there is a God, to not believe in.  They have something to aim their disbelief at... "God".  So, the word "God" is rather inclusive, not exclusive.  

Now, I agree with Debilyn that I should express things with the word "I", "me" or "my".  Not promote my own individual personal values or beliefs as a "we" or "us".  In sharing MY experience, strength and hope, I need to leave the word "You" out of it... it's mine, and I need to share it as such without presenting myself as a voice for the whole.  For myself, I find that when I am using the words "you", "we" or "us", I am more likely giving advice to someone, opposed to just sharing my own experience, strength and hope.  Sharing my ES&H goes along the lines of ... "I went through something similar, and this is what I found worked well for me when I decided to handle it."  As soon as I use the phrase, "if I were you, I would..." or "You could, or You should.."  I am advising, or consulting and am not expressing my own es&h.  Note the difference between these two sentences...

God brought us to recovery because He loves us and wants us to have more peace and serenity and to help others - but each of us also has been given the opportunity to be a True Spiritual Worker.

The God of my understanding, because He loves me and wants me to have more peace and serenity and to help others - has given me the opportunity to be a True Spiritual Worker.

One expresses personal opinion and belief aimed at the whole collectively, the other expresses personal experience, strength and hope aimed solely at myself.  And Hopefully, someone will benefit from my sharing it as my own experience, strength and hope.  Now, I don't really pick things apart like this, nor do I wish to pick on this post at all, but just making a point... kinda like this is a "We" program... but "I" better be the one working it... why?  Because no one else can work it for me, I must do my own work, then I have something to truly contribute to the newcomer,ie. the solution as I experienced it.  Otherwise, I am merely swapping the problem back and forth, giving grand suggestions that I haven't followed myself, and the solution is being missed all together by and for me.  A little off note; I heard a speaker at a meeting, who said, he didn't really believe in sponsorship, and working the steps didn't require he do any writing, and while God was a good advocate, he felt his progress was mostly the result of pulling himself up by his own boot straps.  When I share at a speaker meeting, I want to share, "what it use to be like, what happened and what its like now. (My experience, where I got my strength, and what great sense of hope has unfolded in my life as a result.  His share was.. what it use to be like, what it use to be like and what it use to be like.  Never so much as touched on what happened or what its like now.  Based on his own story, there is a good reason for this... if I don't move and do the foot work of this program, I am inclined to stay stuck in the problem, miss the solution.  I need, want and enjoy living in the solution today, and working this program to the best of MY ability is what allows me to do that.  Working someone else's program has never been to my benefit (or having them work mine.)  :)

There is one thing that I found a bit off in this post... "In a world that is suffering emotionally EVERYONE can be my qualifier - not just the alcoholic or people IN recovery."  Al-Anon is not for the emotionally suffering world at large.  There is a 12 step organization called Emotions Anonymous for them, its not Al-Anon.  Tradition Three clearly states "The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend."  Being emotionally whacked out and suffering is not a qualifying criteria for membership at all, nor does my emotional status, or that of others come into play when I join this fellowship.  I meet the requirement for membership in Al-Anon only by having a friend or loved one who suffers from alcoholism.  The adverse effects it has on me and my daily life is what I get to work on, AFTER I step over the threshold into a Al-Anon group.  My emotional status didn't bring me here, untreated alcoholism did.  I just brought my emotional status with me.  :)

Hope this helped someone... sorry so long winded.

John

Thanks John

Your clarity and wisdom do light the way to undersanding and acceptance