If the thought for the day is "into action," then I have to check with myself, am I? Am I doing what I need to do each day to put my faith into action?
"Faith without works is dead" has stuck with me since day one of my sobriety. At first it meant, emptying ashtrays, stacking chairs, making coffee. Those things made me feel so selfless. Which for me, is a good thing, because left to my own devices, I am all about self. And that is the crux of my problem. I cannot be left to my own devices. Not if I don't want to pick up a drink and end up back in the insanity that was my alcoholism.
As I have grown in my sobriety, I've had to take it further. At first, it was forcing myself to share at meetings. Then, it was giving out my phone number, leading meetings, and even going on panels (something that terrified me!). But I pushed outside of my comfort zone because I could see that people all around me were getting results. These days it is about sharing at meetings in a way that God might use me to reach someone who is suffering. Or sponsoring women when I secretly wonder how I am going to find time for them, and taking their frantic, late night calls.
I do these things because, as always, I want more. But this time I want more of something that is truly good for me. More serenity, more joy, more quiet intuition on the decisions I face each day. And the only way I have found to get more of these things is to make a deposit each day. Call it the Karmic Bank, or chalk it up to "what goes around comes around." It doesn't really matter why it works. Only that it does.
Each day, thousands of us are living proof that practicing faith through action is one of the most important tools we carry with us "as we trudge the road of happy destiny."
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I find that whenever I'm feeling bad about something conversely I'm also thinking about myself and/or trying to control things in my mind somehow. Morning meditation and the discipline of it proves to be one of my barometers time and time again. One of my most popular prayers, God please take away my selfish, self centered thinking and help me to be of service to others. Like a mantra. Practicing listening skills and pausing before I respond...how can I add to the conversation and get into someone elses world instead of always bringing someone into my world!
ReplyDeleteI struggle with sponsorship and never feel like I have the time or am very good at it. have never had a sponsee longer than say 3 months, they usually stop going to meetings, stop wanting to do the work.
I check in with my homegroup buddies often whether on facebook or just a good morning or how ya doing text...helps a little with getting out of self. So, feeling like there is a mountain of growth to be had in this area for me, but yet AA always competes with my working career, family, and rest time. The lessen will keep coming until it is learned!! Thanks for sharing, Tracy.