Audio (MP3): 20171230 - So long as I continue to do it
Iâm overly fond of how they worded all of AAâs Twelve Steps.Case in point: the 11th Step.
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
â Step 11 of Alcoholics Anonymous
It doesnât say that we pray in the morning and meditate in the afternoon or whatever. It says that we continued to seek, it doesnât say when or where or how. The reason they didnât put it on a schedule is because some people might work the third shift.
Itâs really that simple. Itâs not up to me to assume that everybody elseâs life is just like mine and they need to work the steps just as I do.
Sometimes I kneel when I pray. Sometimes I donât. Sometimes my prayers last five seconds and sometimes theyâre extended. Sometimes all my heart and soul are in them. Sometimes Iâm just mouthing the words. Thatâs okay. Because Iâm praying.
I never sit Indian style with my hands on my knees and meditate either. That doesnât work for me. I either end up falling asleep or thinking about something nonsensical. And the point of meditation for me is to quiet my mind. To listen. To not to have all the crazy monkey chatter going on. Just shut it all down and let my thoughts come and go as they please.
The only way that I can do that for long is to have some meaningless, mind-numbing task to do. Maybe Iâll meditate when Iâm folding laundry or doing dishes or cutting the grass or just riding my bike.
It doesnât matter. However I do it is fine so long as I continue to do it. âContinueâ and âsoughtâ are the first two keywords in the 11th Step.
Only seeking Godâs will when I pray is also important. One of my most often prayers in early recovery was:
âGod, I donât care what happens just help me accept it.â
Prayers for me donât work. Prayers for Godâs will do. They keep me focused. They keep me out of what I want and in whatâs really important.
And after I pray I meditate. Sometimes only for a moment, sometimes more. I put myself out there and I need to be open to the cosmos sending something back.
God speaks to us. Directly. It took me a long time to let go of the notion that God is separate from us. That Godâs somewhere else, far away. But I donât believe that God is anymore. I believe that God is here. Right here. Right now. With me, with each of us. In this very room. Or wherever youâre reading this.
Quiet your mind and feel the presence. Weâre never alone. Tune out the static. Itâs irrelevant. Embrace the peace.
You deserve it.
PS- The plant in the picture is an amaryllis. I got it from Trader Joeâs.
JayJayFrench ¡ Dec 30, 2017 at 12:26 pm
I live mindfully and try to do the next right thing. It keeps me on the right path.
Reply
Post
Anonymous ¡ Dec 30, 2017 at 1:23 pm
Hereâs a step 11 worksheet I use every day check it out.
I like that! With the Big Book quotes, it really helps clarify what I should be seek. :)
Anonymous ¡ Dec 31, 2017 at 4:26 pm
I use that and it helps me tremendously itâs right out of the big book
Reply
Post
Anonymous ¡ Dec 30, 2017 at 5:44 pm
Thatâs it! I pray to be made aware of my higher powerâs will, not mine. Before it was praying for my will, a new job, to better my situation etc. Now I pray for guidance of his will for me and the power to carry that will out. Because itâs important for us to remember, we arenât in charge, we tried that and it failed miserably!
Yep, when Iâm in charge I make a mess of my life.
Reply
Post
wanttopushbutton ¡ Dec 30, 2017 at 6:30 pm
awesome - thank you. I especially like the âGod is here. Right here. Right nowâ part.
Reply
Post
lifesStruggles ¡ Dec 31, 2017 at 10:46 am
What is step 1
Iâm not sure if youâre being serious or not đ¤
lifesStruggles ¡ Jan 1, 2018 at 11:23 am
Iâm 49 years old and donât feel much like playing lol , so yes I was serious. I had a nice person send me a link to the book. I am reading the doctors message now. On day 3 âŚ.pretty proud. Trying to find ways to entertain my brain. I usually canât sleep when I donât drink, so took something to help last night. Just hoping not to get as emotional as I was yesterday. So far Iâm not.
Reply
Post
hankthesmallcat ¡ Jan 3, 2018 at 8:19 pm
You definitely donât have to say anything. Remember, itâs an anonymous program and âwhat you hear here, who you see here, let it stay hereâ (read in every meeting Iâve been to). Do you have a computer? Go to InTheRooms.org and do a video meeting. All you have to have is google chrome (easily downloadable). What about a Big Book? You can read that in the privacy of your own home! Day 6 coming up!
Reply
Post