Hi everyone! My name is Cherise and I'm an alcoholic.
I would like to pick the topic of "Keeping a conscious contact with God" I think back to the beginning of my sobriety, and remember how hectic it was and how desperate I felt for help. My relationship with my HP was something that I felt real deep in my heart and soul. I had no other choice but to let God in. Now after being sober for some time, and I am pretty settled, I seemed to have lost that strong bond I had with my HP. Probably because when I've been praying I've been doing all the talking and no listening. Thanks to my sponsor,my support group and AA I am able to realize that I'm not doing all the work I need to do. I noticed lately some old behaviors coming back, and that will eventualy drive me to a drink. It's unbelievable to me how important my spiritual condition is to my recovery, and how since the last couple days I've been working on it, there's all ready a difference. Once again I am grateful for My HP and the program of AA. Thanks for listening, and I hope everyone has a great week!
Hi my name is J.D. and I am an alcoholic, Excellent topic. I am a bit of an HP fanatic and I get bent out of shape easily when I start to lose that conscious contact. For me the better life gets the easier it is to put god second, you know behind the really important things like money, family, a new car, the job, etc and that goes on untiil it all blows up and I have to ask for mercy again. What does seem to help is that secret part of the 11th step that no one in AA talks about... mediation. That is the way I try to have constant conscious contact and it often works.
jd@server.kaiserslautern.army.mil
Thanks, Cherise for a great topic. I've decided that this seventh decade of my life must be dedicated to my spirituality. I am always surprised, JD, when people avoid discussing meditation, because it's the way to reduce Ego -- ideally, even to eradicate it! I am trying to live "mindfully," that is in the present moment in all things. It means that I'm saying "Thank you" constantly!!! Means thjat I listen more openly, and I become more trustworthy. I teach my pigeons to meditate, because I believe those who meditate are LIGHTYEARS ahead of others in spiritual growth in the Program. I also believe that I have a purpose (God's Will) and if I'm not at peace (controlling, anxious, irritable, judging -- you know) it's because I've stepped over onto someone ELSE's purpose. God grants me serenity when I stay in my own yard. Part of my purpose is to have newly-sober women at my house. Our once-a-month meeting has given them a boost. I think it's partly a substitute for Diner Therapy! (we have no diner close by.) Anywho, my conscious contact is maintained through prayer, meditatation, self-evaluation and contact with other people. HE/SHE, THEE and Me. (I just made that up myself. I like it!!!)
Hi everyone, I'm Tim and I'm an alcoholic.
I've been away at Disney World and far from my computer so I've missed this meeting.
Cherise, thanks for the topic. I'll never forget the words I heard at the Elm Park Methodist Church one Friday about 13 years ago in Scranton, PA. The speaker said" My conscious contact is directly related to my conscious content." Wow!
Over the years that has proved so true for me. If I'm thinking about God and God's will for me, I'm spiritually centered. If my thinking about the women across the table, she becomes my higher power. If I think about money, it becomes my higher power.
I do think that I can have a spiritual relationship with the women across the table, and my money and my family, but it is only when I think about them in terms of my higher power and HP's will.
Many blessings, Tim V.
My name is Barbara, and I'm an alcoholic. Thanks, Cherise, for a good topic.
About two years ago, I made a promise to myself to pray every day, which I'd never done before. I'd get up early, put on sweat clothes, and do my running on old country roads as the sun came up and try to pray. At first, I didn't feel that anything was different, although as usual when I pray, I did feel good.
But slowly over the last two years, I have come to have an almost constant feeling of God's presence, and as Judy mentioned, I feel a stronger sense of purpose than ever before. Today, as I sit and type these words, I know that my life has real meaning, and that all things that happen are places along a road that really "goes someplace."
And I think: I would have none of this if I hadn't been a crazy alcoholic and addict! Amazing, isn't it? A miracle.
Meditation for me is harder, at least the usual forms of it. Although if "staring into space" is considered meditation (and maybe it is!), I'm probably the national champion....
Hope everyone is well!
Great topic, thanks Cherise, as usual I’ve heard lots of good stuff. I’ve been thinking lately that I should improve the relationship I have with my God by doing more meditation. Unfortunately I can’t say I’ve given this a very good effort. ‘I’ve been too busy’ which really bothers me because the only reason I have anything is because God has given it to me. I pray/meditate several times a day (usually) but I don’t think that’s enough for me. Every day I ask God to help me do what God wants me to do, not what I want to do, this is a great lesson that was taught to me by all of you. For me it seems my goal should be to have that conscious contact with God every waking moment, to always be aware that God is with me, like some of you have mentioned. I don’t think I’m even close to that point yet. When I look back on something I’ve done that I realize was wrong, I often think, would I have done that if I was conscious about God’s presence? I’m very lucky to have a wonderful life today, but I would be a lot better off if I could always remember that the only reason I’m still ‘suckin air’ (as my friend Lou would say) is because of God and AA. Thanks.
My name is joanie and I am an alcoholic. Someone told me onceI could feel that magic glow come over me and I felt part of the universe. There is magig when a soul shares and I get that energy.Positiveness multiplies when it is shared with another. God is the glue that holds the universe together when they have broken down the most minute particle .He is all around me he is with me he is all there is. When I am working my program I allow him to work meto his best advantage.He and Me are ONE. to invite God to my meeting, wow what a concept!
Thanks, Miss joannie -- my sentiments exactly!
thanks for the topic. two things that I try to do each day is to pray and help others by going to meetings. staying away from 'the bondage of self' keeps me alinged with my Higher Power
Hi everyone. My name is Marie and I am an alcoholic. I find it hard at different times in my sobriety to keep in 'concious contact' with a higher power. I put the '' around concious contact because for me, it means different things at different times. I usually feel that I'm in conscious contact when I feel some sort of serenity inside (to varying degrees). I feel that I am in contact when I find myself able to function well with others at work and my friends. When I am not in contact to the extent that I would like is when I'm (usually) feeling a lot of fear. But I have continued to pray, whether I like it or not because I've learned through my own and others experience that it works. It helps me to feel connected with a higher power to go for walks, watch the animals and breath the fresh air. This has been my main connection with God. And no matter what, I try to remember where I came from, and the incredible- ness of where I am now, even when I don't talk much to God. Thanks and this is pretty cool (this Web thing). Great topic Cherise, and I love you.
Hi everyone. My name is Marie and I am an alcoholic. I find it hard at different times in my sobriety to keep in 'concious contact' with a higher power. I put the '' around concious contact because for me, it means different things at different times. I usually feel that I'm in conscious contact when I feel some sort of serenity inside (to varying degrees). I feel that I am in contact when I find myself able to function well with others at work and my friends. When I am not in contact to the extent that I would like is when I'm (usually) feeling a lot of fear. But I have continued to pray, whether I like it or not because I've learned through my own and others experience that it works. It helps me to feel connected with a higher power to go for walks, watch the animals and breath the fresh air. This has been my main connection with God. And no matter what, I try to remember where I came from, and the incredible- ness of where I am now, even when I don't talk much to God. Thanks and this is pretty cool (this Web thing). Great topic Cherise, and I love you.
HI, My name is Thomas and I'm an alcoholic.
Quiet time out Meditation is one of those topics I love to say well towmorrow I'll start.
Prayer and meditation for me are two differant things. I can pray and have a concoius contact with HP anywhere, but I can't really listen if I'm not quietly meditating.
I definatly don't do enough of it.
Thanks for the topic and the challenge.
tlang@it.com.pl
I'm David an I'm an alcoholic. Thanks for the topic Cherise and the rest of you who have shared. Since coming to the fellowship and working the program of AA, a consious contact with God has been an important part of my recovery. If there is one step I like most it is clearly the 11th. How important it is for me to get away from "bondage to self." Two quotes from the big book are important to me. a. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. b. Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective defense against the first drink. ... His defense must come from a Higher Power.
When I came across that last message I knew that there was no alternative than to develop my conscious contact with my God. Thanks all.