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.
MIP Friends, I am so excited I get to write about this reading today. Somewhere along my Al-Anon journey, I had read or heard that there is a saying among people who rely on camels for transportation -- "Trust in God, and tie your camel to a tree." I love that saying, but I didn't realize that it is found in Courage to Change.
Today's reading relates that marvelous phrase to the idea that in Al-Anon we can trust our higher power, we can expect a miracle, AND we need to "do the footwork." The Twelve Steps help us learn to distinguish between our responsibilities and those we can turn over to a higher power.
Today's Reminder: Today I give thanks for the guidance of my Higher Power and for the measure of common sense needed to apply this guidance to the details of my daily life.
Quote from In All Our Affairs: "No one else can define our role in the unique partnership we develop with our Higher Power.
-----------------------------
So many miracles have occurred for me since Al-Anon, and I credit a higher power but more recently it was pointed out to me, and I have to agree, that I also had a hand in it. It was when I reached out to tell someone what was going on, when I stepped out of my comfort zone, when I did something different -- all of that made space for my higher powers to do their part.
When I tie my camel to a tree (and no, I don't own a camel, just some hopes and expectations) -- I am grounded in reality. I cannot ask my higher powers to fix things for me, but I can humbly request that they point a flashlight to show me there is a way out of darkness and despair.
This is great life advice in so many areas. Sometimes tying one if my many camels is hard. It requires work mentally and emotionally. Every time I'm required to act as CEO of my own life, I face fear and doubt. It's physical sometimes. I'm working on it. Thanks so much for your service and your share. Keep on keeping on.
I can humbly request that they (HP) point a flashlight to show me there is a way out of darkness and despair.
I love this quote because it reminds me that my HP requires me to do the footwork, but he will shine a light where he wants me to go. I also like the reference to doing the footwork because right now I'm trying to find a job and the jobs aren't going to find themselves, I have to go out and look for them. We have to do "our part" in the process of recovery too. Attend meetings, read the literature and talk to our sponsors or someone else in the program.
__________________
I can Overcome all things through my HP who strengthens me.
Thanks for your service FT and with the above shares, I am reminded that it is a partnership with HP and I still have work to do. I ask HP to remove my character defects and keep waiting for them to magically disappear. I know they won't unless I try, pay attention to them, and change my behavior around them whenever possible. It's a lot of work, being a grown up, but if I don't try I will just tread water. And that's exhausting. I do experience wonderful changes through working this program and so I will continue.
Thank you Freetime for your service and the daily! Thank you all for your ESH and shares. I must admit that I just chuckled at the 'tie your camel to a tree' - we are golfing today with 40+ MPH winds and have been joking all morning that I need weights in my shoes or an anchor so I don't blow away....might be a 'you had to be hear to get it' funny, yet brought chuckles for me!
I am grateful that recovery has shown me that change is not bad, but rather is usually good and not optional. The only thing that appears to be constant in my life is change. I used to be so rigid, so black/white, so super structured that change really threw me off. I resisted, I grumbled, and I fought 'it' - which was super pointless and such a waste of energy/time. Today, I can own the fear and anxiety that change may bring and then just do the next right thing. I spent so much time at various points uncertain what the next right thing was that today, I don't wait for divine suggestions. Fundamentally, my experience is that when I am practicing these principles in all my affairs, all answers come at the right time.
Trusting the God of my understanding was no simple feat for me. I have spent a large chunk of my lifetime running on self-will and ego, while resisting help from others - divine and human. Today, I practice a different way and while I truly don't know how it all works, it just seems to. My life and relationships are still crazy, chaotic and painful at times yet that's not where I focus. Instead, I focus on the gifts, the beauty and the good while trusting all will be well.
I'm going to tie my camel to a tree today and trust in what unfolds. Make it a great day all! (((Hugs))) and happy Friday MIP family!
__________________
Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
Thanks to you FT as well and for your service, ESH and today's reading. I love the camel analogy, but I have a beautiful field scene with goats on my computer desk top.
You see I have become very fond of the quote, "If you do not want someone to get your goat, do not tell them where their tied". The desktop scene is a beautiful daily
reminder!! I am so ever grateful to you all on MIP, because when I found you all it was the first time that I discovered that I was in an alcoholic relationship and that it
was destroying me. I literally had no idea!! I have worked the program, with Al-Anon and MIP's help and am still struggling to deal with AH and his abusive outbursts
but am in such a better place mentally to deal with it. I no longer take the personal attacks personally and have learned to see the person with the disease much more
clearly. HP is always pointing me in the appropriate direction!! Trust HP and rely on the stability of a camel tied and waiting for transport. Love it!!
Have a great day everyone and thank you for your shares.
__________________
"Forgiveness doesn't excuse bad behavior, but does prevent bad behavior from destroying your heart" ~ Unknown
