When my sponsor introduced me to this idea, I honestly couldn't fathom what she meant. Teachers? She further said that there were no accidents. Everything that happened was part of "my script." I can still remember being confounded by her "instruction," and a bit frightened. How did she know these things? Should I be alarmed by her words? When things happened that felt strange, it increased my uncertainty about her and this new sober life I was attempting. I look back on this earlier time as confusing, to say the least. And very grateful that I[...]
Category
What I Believe – You and Your Higher Power
0 Prayer is a "staple" of my life. No doubt this is true for many of you too. And "acting as if" is also a staple that I adopted after coming into the fellowship in 1974. It was an amazing tool for a beginner. It's effectiveness continues to amaze me too. It's a shortcut that can transport us from one state of mind to another, a shortcut I have relied on for years, and I have to exercise this long-held belief once again. I have revealed to you in more than one blog of late that my own state of mind has been troubled. Nothing negative has happened in my[...]
Being grateful is a decision. Anticipating the good that will undoubtedly "wear our name" is also a decision. In fact, every experience in one's life is an opportunity to say "yes, I am happy this particular experience has paid a visit." Each one is always meant for our good; for our growth; for our eventual use with the many other people who will cross our path. I was certainly not "a believer" in the concept of acceptance before becoming a member of the fellowship. It wasn't lost on me that every idea I had ever cherished now needed to be up for re-co[...]
I spent last evening with my husband and a few of our good friends. Following a Christmas Eve service at Unity Church, we gathered at our home and enjoyed a meal, coupled with the quiet pleasure of being in the presence of one another. There is no better way to spend time, whether it's a holiday or simply any ordinary day in our lives. Because when you stop and think about it, no day is really ordinary. Every day that we are in the company of others is extraordinary. And why is that? I think it's because God has carefully orchestrated the encounters we h[...]
Circle of Family and Friends - You and Your Personal Community, What I Believe - You and Your Higher Power
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Change is inevitable. . .
This is an apt topic for me to blog about today because I am resisting a change that's beyond my control. Our minister has decided to leave our church at the end of the year. That's only six weeks from now! I know that many of us are feeling the loss already. He has brought us so far in four years and he is loved, not only because of his solid spiritual message, but because he is alive with enthusiasm. The church has experienced many changes in the 22 years I have attended it but this one took me by surprise, total surprise. Many friends, who also atte[...]
I have spent the last twenty years of my life writing and speaking about relationships; how we can improve them by making them more peaceful, more productive and more loving within our many communities. You have read in other blogs of mine or in books I have written, or perhaps even heard me say in a workshop that nothing and no one appears on our radar screen by accident or complete surprise. Perhaps we didn't know what was just around the corner, but it was known. That's a huge blessing to all of us, I think. It has allowed me to relax about the future[...]
A Course in Miracles is a spiritual path that is very dear to my heart. I have been a "student" for 25 years and I embrace its spiritual principles as closely as I embrace the principles of AA and Al-Anon. In fact, I think the three programs blend very well. I also think the level of my joy and peace of mind are directly the result of the combination of all three paths. We all have to make our own choices, of course, and I'd never tell any one else they should seek peace in exactly the way I do it. Everyone needs to find their own path. But I am conte[...]
Every day we have to align ourselves with the God of our understanding if we want good orderly direction, coupled with peace of mind. No doubt you have made the decision to seek that direction at least once in your life or you wouldn't be interested in a blog such as mine. But seeking it once doesn't mean we are home free, if you know what I mean. It's been my experience, in fact, that an every day request is necessary. It's also been my experience that an answer is always forthcoming. That's some thing we can count on, "put in the bank," so to speak.[...]
I love the simplicity of this solution to whatever is getting under my skin at the moment. Any moment. I well remember being given the small blue booklet titled Acceptance when I came into the 12 step rooms of recovery back in the mid 70's. The first time I read it, it offered great relief and on every subsequent reading too. I experienced a big sigh of relief washing over me, in fact. Acceptance was such a simple suggestion but it moved me in a profound way. I had never before felt hope at such a deep level. I knew, without a doubt, that something p[...]
I have certainly learned after years of walking the path of recovery that faith cannot be a "sometimes thing." We either have it or we don't. However, I have also learned that practicing to have faith is almost as effective as the real thing. As you know, if you have been following my blog, I just came through a dark phase. It came on me gradually but it was "full-blown" in no time and I felt immobilized. I had no impetus to do any thing and was fearful that the darkness wouldn't leave any time soon. I have suffered chronic depression over the years[...]