|
 |
A Thought |
 |
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 01:24 PM |
 |
There are no souls saved after nine o'clock
|
|
|
 |
|
6 Reads |
  |
|
 |
|
|
Recovery From A Spiritual Malady |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 01:04 PM |
|
If you suffer from the deadly spiritual malady as I. You might begin a methodology of recovery by following the suggestion of the first three words on:
Page 112 of the Big Book
|
|
|
| |
|
6 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Mood |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Tuesday, February 02, 2010 - 11:43 AM |
 |
Melancholy is too great too write today
|
|
|
| |
|
11 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Tradition #2 |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Sunday, January 31, 2010 - 08:48 PM |
|
Tradition #2
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as he may express Himself in our group conscience........................
A vote is a man made way of saying, "This is our group conscience, so the authority comes from God", when it is an act of governance. God is expressing Himself when we are all loving, tolerance, and compassionate to the still suffering and each other. While we keep in mind our purpose and our limitations. It is all a matter of what God can do that we cannot do.
|
|
|
| |
|
7 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Money And Sobriety |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Sunday, January 31, 2010 - 03:06 PM |
|
I got sober once in Possum Trot, KY. We had a fellowship meeting in a Baptist Church right in front of Emmett's tobacco patch. I joined the group there with three others already sober. We were told that we should have a bank account that required two signatures. This required a tax ID number. Nobody in the group knew what that was, so we talked to Emmett. Emmett went off on a story about buying a wife and all he got was a darn old dress. He was sure no help. We talked about it for several days and decided there was no way to share our experience, strength and hope without some money and a bank account, so we decided to start taking turns being the town drunk again.
That was no fun so I moved to Louisville where every broke tobacco farmer goes. That way you move up the chain link a notch. My drinking got much worse so I joined a group down by Mohammed's father old place. We had a little money and no bank account. We let some crazy drunk be treasurer. Hell, he was out drunk again in no time at all. About twenty members sat down one night and had a long discussion about our situation. It was agreed no way could we share our experience, strength and hope without some money. So we hit the streets on the west end of Louisville with bottles of Kentucky Gentleman and several cases of Sterling Beer.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Fellowship Money |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Friday, January 29, 2010 - 09:04 PM |
|
Prudent Reserve: The amount of money a Fellowship Treasurer needs for a binge. The amount will determine length of the binge.
|
|
|
| |
|
7 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
4 to 12 Year Old Axiom |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Monday, January 25, 2010 - 06:06 PM |
|
There is an axiom within the 4 to 12 year olds that in a free society no one can make a person drink or use drugs nor can anyone make them stop. The simplicity of this idea gets lost in our adult society.
Our fellowship was founded upon that principle our children understand. Sometime we lose that thought and we damage ourselves and others trying to prove we know how to show all how to stop drinking.
Big Book Page 90
.....................If he does not want to stop drinking, Don't waste time trying to persuade him. You may spoil a later opportunity.
|
|
|
| |
|
9 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
True Tolerance |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Sunday, January 24, 2010 - 05:17 PM |
|
"Let us always love the best in others---and never fear the worst"
As Bill Sees It
Page 203 First Written in Grapevine 1962
This idea our Fellowship tries to creates an atmosphere all who suffer are welcome. This thought was an attraction for me.
|
|
|
| |
|
9 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Word of Caution #3 |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Friday, January 22, 2010 - 11:43 AM |
|
If I progress into the third step to despair, depression, I cannot treat in a short order. Hopefully I have made it this far without using psychoactive drugs not suggested by a competent physician. If so go to Topic: Anatomy of Melancholy on this site. The best is to pick up the book, "As Bill Sees It". Go to index and look for title page Depression
|
|
|
| |
|
10 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Word of Caution #2 |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Thursday, January 21, 2010 - 01:14 PM |
|
If the exalting feelings of self-righteous anger are not attended to quickly we fall into second step to despair, self pity.
More work will be need to stop the fall into depression like, spiritual inventory, prayer and meditation, talking to spiritual advisor will be needed.
|
|
|
| |
|
9 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
A Word of Caution |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - 12:33 PM |
|
Self-righteous anger is the first of three steps to despair.
Treated properly with prayer and meditation much pain can be avoided
|
|
|
| |
|
13 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
A Weirdharold Message |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Thursday, January 14, 2010 - 01:14 PM |
|
Hold the hand that shakes the most
|
|
|
| |
|
10 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Tradition #12 |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 - 12:44 PM |
|
Tradition #12
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Weirdharold says
When discussing anonymity I note some folks have a self-centered fear their illness will be expose to the public. I had this fear myself. This fear decreased as I grew spiritually within the program. I could not be of value to the still suffering alcoholic until this fear had been somewhat decreased. Also, I learned fast I could not carelessly use my illness to attain public attention. I must try to go humbly go through my community practicing these principles in all my affairs.
|
|
|
| |
|
13 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
A Weirdharold Thought |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 - 12:30 AM |
|
Listen to no one that does not make coffee for everyone
|
|
|
| |
|
15 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Control Others or Depend Upon Them |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Monday, January 11, 2010 - 12:07 AM |
|
I hear many things around the fellowship I have not experienced, nor would I have wished it had. I remember my parents and later my wife controlled me with the checkbook. This I deeply resented. When my wife handed me the checkbook and told me to take of myself and continued by saying she and our son would take of themselves, a fear came to being I had never felt before. In nature it was, how was I going to care for myself? I knew I could not continue drinking and care for my financial needs. I called an alcohol/drug counselor within one hour, as my wife had suggested. This call started me on a program within the fellowship that I continue today.
The issue of trying to control others continued until my work life ended in 1993 when the disability determination board said I was no longer able to work in a completive work environment. This attempts to control continued within my family and the fellowship. This character defect has often alienated family and fellowship members.
Seeking a Higher Power for spiritual self sufficiency gave me the self sufficiency in needed for living. Sharing my experience, strength, and hope with others suffering alcoholics has been my methodology for living without using alcohol for many years years. My relationship with a Higher Power is unique as my fingerprints and assume other alcoholics are also.
The principle in our fellowship we can choose our own Higher Power and we put all our principles above personalities give me the strength to understand I must surrender my will to give up the bottle and take on my own responsibilities to live a of service.
Any time I insist on controlling others or someone take my responsibilities I am have not asked my Higher Power to relieve me of that human bondage of self and I am still dependent upon other to relieve my alcoholism.
Any time I hear someone giving another instructions or someone asking for specific instructions I suggest the following reading:
(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could relieve our alcoholism
(c) That God could and would if he were sought.
Tell me what you did, not what to do. I hope that my character flaws are such that I can do the same.
|
|
|
| |
|
17 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
More About Sharing our Experience, Strength, and Hope |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Saturday, January 09, 2010 - 03:25 PM |
|
One of the most important and often thought about of my fellowship experiences happened in 1984. I had just moved to the Pottsville, PA area. I was alone and went to meeting every night and picked up a few individuals that did not have transportation. One of them being Mike with a very Irish surname. My father had died in March and my father-in-law died the first of August. I had a very stressful job also. I was suffering from untreated Hypo Mania. As always I was going to a fellowship meeting a least two or three times per week and as always I had entered those groups as a member making coffee. One Tuesday night Mike was with me the topic (of the meeting before the meeting) how much dry time we had, Mike had 3 months, then I stated, "I have 8 years". Mike came back with, "Man, I do not want what you have".
This statement was so true He, for sure, did not want the serious mental disorder I had and still have. I must remember not to shovel my dry time down some newcomer throat, only share my experience, strength and hope.
The Manic Depressive must treat the variations in brain functions via the scarcely know methods that now exist and use the fellowship to treat the alcoholism.
One thing I know that causes these variations is stress. I must remove myself from all stressful situations until a more comfortable situation comes about.
Note: An example recently: Asked how I was doing. I replied, "I was have trouble with Manic Depression" the reply, "Pray about it". As if I was not. |
|
|
| |
|
27 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Fellowship Meetings |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 11:42 PM |
|
I have been hearing much about sponsorship in my fellowship meetings lately. There a two things I find are not part of the fellowship. The first, suggestions are given as mandates. I may be understanding the pigeons incorrectly. But this is how I understand what they are saying. The other is I hear personalities quoted as gospel.
The first thought, I reference our most read literature from, page 89, "You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill." We must not lose their confidence because we do not understand their illness. The individual being sponsored could have mental impairment plus a spiritual malady. I suggest no mandates.
The second thought, I again reference our most used literature from, page 87, "Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer". Then I will quote a well know Buddhist Monk, "The finger pointing at the moon is not the moon."
|
|
|
| |
|
22 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Spiritual Dominance |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Thursday, January 07, 2010 - 01:19 PM |
|
"don't try to be a saint by Thursday"
Bill W. A phrase Bill attributed to early members of the fellowship. Found in "As Bill Sees It" Page 181. It was first printed in the Grapevine in June 1961.
It means to me to avoid spiritual pride and spiritual dominance over others.
|
|
|
| |
|
19 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Unity |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Wednesday, January 06, 2010 - 01:17 PM |
|
We in the fellowship, when embattled in needless thought, with another member, should remember the single rule of the professional wrestlers: Your opponent needs to work tomorrow night.
|
|
|
| |
|
21 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Humility For All |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Sunday, January 03, 2010 - 02:24 PM |
|
On the spiritual path no one has higher or lower status than anyone else.
- Nizam al-Din, “Fawa’id al-Fu’ad”
From Beliefnet daily e-mail
This is a statement from a religious person, however we do not follow religious precept, but it is suggested that if we see ideas from religion we can use, use it.
In our fellowship this principle is essential for the development of humility. As stated in our literature the attainment of greater humility is the principle of each of our steps. For without some degree of humility , no alcoholic can stay sober at all.
I try to look to all to see the value of their spiritual path.
|
|
|
| |
|
31 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Grapevine |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Friday, January 01, 2010 - 06:47 PM |
|
DISTILLED SPIRITS
When sharing my experience, strength and hope, I try to avoid using words like "success" and "failure". I might come off as indicating that those who return to drinking are failures while those who remain sober are successes. When I look across a table in a fellowship meeting and see a person full of alcohol hanging onto the last vestiges of any self-esteem he or she may have, I do not see failure. I see a person who has the same illness I have. So little is known about the treatment of my disease that I think it wise not to classify the condition of another's health.
Note: Grapevine, October 1999 |
|
|
| |
|
32 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
Weirdharold Ponders His Actions of 10/14/2005 |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Thursday, December 31, 2009 - 05:50 PM |
|
I belong to a fellowship that is solely devoted to helping those having a spiritual malady that no human power has ever been able to aid. I had been asked to help an individual who appears to suffer from the same spiritual illness as I. I had laid out a plan I thought would help. I had not seen the person for many days. I picked up another fellowship member and we went to visit the person in question. It was obvious from onsite; though amiable and gracious, she had decided to turn to human power to correct her malady. This left me sad.
Note: Page 14, "As Bill Sees It": "You can't make a horse drink water if he still prefers beer or is too crazy to know what he does want. Set a pail of water beside him, tell him how good it is and why, and leave him alone.
"If people really want to get drunk, there is, so far as I know, no way of stopping this --- so leave them alone and let them get drunk. But don't exclude them from the water pail, either."
This seems to a hard lesson for me to learn
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Bashing |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 11:24 PM |
|
After several years of surfing the internet, I have found many that bash 12 Step programs, that supply aid to those seeking some form of relief from a given spiritual malady. One of these fellowship have given aid to 10 million people over the past 74 years. Each of those 10 million have given testimony to some relief.
Now those that bash these fellowships fall into two groups. The first group are entrepreneurs that earn their wealth form the prejudices and fears of the insecure. The second group are the ones that enrich the first group. They all fall into one category that all the aforementioned 10 million can testify to: "They have not had their last drink yet"
|
|
|
| |
|
36 Reads |
|
|
|
|
|
You Just Might Be An Alcoholic If: |
|
|
|
Posted by: harold -
on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 - 12:08 AM |
|
1. You eat corn flakes with bourbon poured over them!
2. You drive to Eau Claire, WI to purchase 28 cases of “Bud Light” for 3% discount.
3. You try to hide 28 cases of “Bud Light” under a small bed!
4. Your favorite hiding place for “Haven Hill 6 Years Old” is in the tank of the window washer of your ‘73 Dodge Polaris!
5. You can drink one (1) fifth of “Haven Hill 6 Years Old” driving from Louisville to St. Louis without flashing a bottle or stopping.
6. You always cash your payroll check at the liquor store!
7. You have convinced your spouse the only place to purchase cigarettes is the liquor store!
8. You arrive at your son’s wedding with a half-pint of “Haven Hill 6 Years Old” in the breast pocket of your suit with bottle cap removed and straw inserted!
9. You have lost your car more than one dozen times in the parking lot of the local pub that accommodates 8 cars!
10. You have found the most comfortable and peaceful place to sleep was the bathtub on more than one dozen occasions!
11. You have been to a doctor about drinking at least 25 times but never confess to drinking more than a 6 pack per week!
12. You proudly proclaim you have never gone to bed with an ugly partner, but you have some recollections of awaking with one or two.
13. At least one time you have had the roof of your moth sunburned.
|
|
|
| |
|
35 Reads |
|
|
|
|
 |
Other Stories |
 |
|
- A Thought
(Feb 04, 2010)
- Recovery From A Spiritual Malady
(Feb 03, 2010)
- Mood
(Feb 02, 2010)
- Tradition #2
(Jan 31, 2010)
- Money And Sobriety
(Jan 31, 2010)
- Fellowship Money
(Jan 29, 2010)
- 4 to 12 Year Old Axiom
(Jan 25, 2010)
- True Tolerance
(Jan 24, 2010)
- Word of Caution #4
(Jan 23, 2010)
- Word of Caution #3
(Jan 22, 2010)
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Past Articles |
|
|
- Tuesday, December 29
- A Perfect Meeting (0)
- Monday, December 28
- Heard at a Fellowship Meeting (0)
- Sunday, December 27
- Your Are In Recovery IF: (0)
- Saturday, December 26
- Acronyms (0)
- Friday, December 25
- Things A Newcomer Should Know (& old-timer too) (0)
- Thursday, December 24
- 13th Step (0)
- Wednesday, December 23
- More About Alcoholism (0)
- Tuesday, December 22
- Definition Of An Alcoholic (0)
- Monday, December 21
- Weirdharold Describes His First Drink (0)
- Sunday, December 20
- Weirdharold Recalls Events of 1968 (0)
Older articles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
