Member:
Thomas L.
Date:
7/20/97
Time:
3:18:02 PM

Comments

Hi. My name is Thomas and I’m a grateful recovering Alcoholic.

I’m sitting in Warsaw, Poland at my computer with my 11 month old son (Joshua) on my lap and my daughter (Valentina) across the room from me playing, what a gift God’s given me through AA. AA and the fellowship it offers has allowed me to truly feel LOVE and have a relationship with my higher power whom I choose to call God. There is so much today that I have to be thankful for in my life, my cup truly runneth over with blessings, far more than I deserve, if I got what I really deserve I would not be in this world but looking up from some fiery place.

I truly believe that God has chosen me to be an instrument for his peace and that I must be vigilant with my recovery in order to do the right thing with these blessings and opportunities, to use them for his good not for what can be my self centered self righteous ego if not for the grace of GOD. I do not know or understand why God has picked me for this but I pray that this is how I will behave for the remainder of my life on this planet.

When I feel the words that I have written above in my hart, as true, then this alcoholic knows he is working his program. When I feel like this there is nothing that can defeat my spirit. There are trails and tribulations in my life but today I know that these are messages from my God to look in myself and work on something, so that I might better serve his will for me. I hope I’m not being to spiritual for everyone but it’s flowing out of me at the moment. Over the next few days some major steps will be occurring which will tell the pace and possible direction of events in my life near term. Just to be able to look and feel like this shows to me how far my recovery has come. To believe that what’s really important is serving God doing the right thing for the right reason and not the recognition (not to get the deal for my good but his). I want to serve in what ever capacity he has in mind for me, reality is sometime my passions take hold of me and I’m impatient and then I get one of those subtle messages, wait I’m not finished working on you yet or maybe he hasn’t finished working on the other people I’m about to come in contact with. God knows not me. I’m just grateful that he has allowed me to have this life.

I need to share that I’m not able to go to meetings for two weeks at this moment and this meeting is one of the most important things I my recovery today. I’ve a good network of AA fellowship people here and talk to someone once a day and go to church and worship my God.

I am a thankful and grateful recovering Alcoholic which prays that God never lets go of me and that I pass the blessings of recovery on to who ever God buts in my life.

The Topic for the week is how are youuuu doing and where are you in your recovery at the very moment your typing

I miss all of you at the Diner and the Kirkridged in Eburg and hope to be home for a week next month and will see some of you then.

Love Thomas


Member:
Judy K in Maine
Date:
7/20/97
Time:
5:49:06 PM

Comments

Hi, Thomas -- great to hear from you from "across the big pond." It's difficult when you can't get to regular meetings, I know. I'm glad we can find each other on the WWW!!! How am I doing in my recovery right now, as I'm typing? "GAFOFO", as my granddaughter Sophie, age 3, will say to anyone who'll listen! Gafofo my life, my health, my friends, my God and my Program (not necessarily in that order!) I've been watching an osprey soar and dive for fish on Maple Juice Cove. I've laughed at my cat panting after a goldfinch through the screen door. I've talked to a "pigeon" who's slowly getting off prozac because she's in the Program now and knows it's time! Everywhere I turn there's beauty and love and peace. Did you know that dandelions can grow to 5 feet tall if you don't mow them? Truth! It's the little things of daily life that I'm observing and savoring. A cool breeze is coming off the ocean. "Gafofo" everything, Thomas, and yet remembering that once upon a time I couldn't even hear the birds singing because I was wallowing in self-pity and resentment (and scotch!) Gafofo a way of life that makes sense and brings out the best feelings -- caring and sharing.

... and never to forget that a single drink would erase this joy, perhaps forever, in my case. Why would I ever leave my God and my sobriety, and then struggle to get back? We took a drunk to detox a couple of nights ago after a meeting, and she stormed out when they wanted her to wait a while before admitting her. She seemed to have a desire to do almost anything but what she was told. Hmm. Message there!


Member:
jd@server.kaiserslautern.army.mil
Date:
7/22/97
Time:
10:47:05 AM

Comments

Hi my name is J.D. and I am an Alcoholic, What a wonderful meeting and so far just the three of us. Right now I am feeling a deep sense of surrender and love. I seem to have stumbled, literally, into a way of life where I know longer have to philosophise or debate about the existence of God but now I can just feel the security of being in his hands. Judy, your sharing sounds more like poetry everyday. Thomas, I too am at sort of a crossroads in my life. Will I live in Europe or return to the USA. Well, I just spent a great deal of $$$ to go back to the states to see where I really wanted to live and in an AA meeting there I found out it really doesn't matter where I am as long as my real goal is to do Gods will. I love these spirituals sharings.


Member:
Cherise D
Date:
7/22/97
Time:
10:24:55 PM

Comments

Hi Everyone, my name is Cherise and I am a very grateful alcoholic today. Thanks Thomas for sharing such deep spiritual words. I am glad that you are here too. This meeting is wonderful for me as well. With my 2 yr.old, sometimes it is not easy getting to the meetings I enjoy because of babysitting hassels, but I love that this meeting is always here. I really liked what you shared and how I'm feeling right now is a very deep sense of Serenity in my life. The last few weeks have been lots of learning experiences for me, and that just reinforces that my God is always there teaching me something new each day. I have a sponsee who recently came into my life, and she is definetly a gift from God. To start at the very beginning with her sure shows me how grateful I really am to have such a joyeus life. And also reminds me of how sick I really was then and how much I've grown today. I too have this huge sense of spirituality with my daughter on a daily basis. I truly believe that she is an "Angel" from God. Sometimes I get some old thinking back, but the difference today is I recognize it, and have the tools to get through anything today, with God, my sponsor and friends like you in AA, and Don't ever have to pick up a drink. Thank you all for listening, and Thomas I don't think it's possible to be too spiritual. Thanks again!