What I Learned from Rhonda O.

While reading Rhonda's post I came. I came to. I came to believe. I learned something she learned and passed on to us all.

Rhonda wrote that she heard a woman share "A few months ago I heard a woman in a meeting saying how she no longer asks God to be with her children. Instead she thanks Him for being with them wherever they are." This simple shift in words makes a great shift in the thinking. It is really amazing how that works.

These simple shifts are needed in my life regularly. I need books and meetings and posts like Rhonda's to remind me of this.

Thanks Rhonda!

What I Learned from Randy F.

Read Randy's Post = Step 3

I printed this post and got out my hot pink highlighter to see what jumped out at me. I had three areas I seemed to key into ~ the self-will muscle, the science of meditation, the first step of learning how to relax our bodies.

Out of these three items the most fascinating to learn about was the science of meditation and I can make use of the self-will muscle and learning to relax our bodies.

What I learned from Randy is how powerful meditation really is. The proven science of how it can actually create new neural pathways, help heal our bodies, generate positive energy that touches every part of our body and others within 5-8 feet of us. This information alone is such encouragement to continue my path of meditation. To work hard on keeping those channels open.

How I can make use of Randy's post is to remember that "self-will muscle" and how it needs regular exercise to let go of the self-centered perspective. In practicing my meditation starting with Randy's suggestion of the first step in relaxing my body and can then move towards the exercise of the mental letting go. Letting go of the thoughts and allowing them to "float by."

Thank you Randy for helping me with my 11th Step practice!

What I Learned from Dick B.

I chose the post Alcoholics Anonymous History and Early A.A.'s Christian Roots to reflect on. Whenever reading a post by Dick B. I always learn a little more about the history of A.A. As a Christian I am still learning about my own religion and to hear what early Christian A.A.'s did is always of interest.

When Dick listed the parts of the program that early A.A.'s did not have to stay sober I got a slight pang of emotion. How lucky I feel to have had so many pave the way for my recovery. The abundance of meetings, the Steps and Traditions, the information at my fingertips and any time, drunkalogs online, on CDs, and of course at meetings.

So my take on this is how much more they had to rely on God. How would they have done it without? The first three got sober with God. How powerful! Information I have known but not thought of in this way.

The other thing I found very interesting is how Bill wanted to keep the line "on our knees." I get that. Once when working with a sponsee who was really struggling I tried to encourage more prayer and actually getting on her knees. The suggestion was heard although not taken. I have found that when I do get on my knees in prayer it seems to aid in my humility and deepen my connection with God. So I felt affirmed in my experience after reading that.

I can make use of this information by continuing to work on that relationship with God. To improve that conscious contact. To pray hard and hit my knees more.

Thank you Dick B. for sharing so much with us this month!

Gwen R.
TwelveBeads

2009 IOCC Challenge

Here it is folks! The 2009 IOCC Challenge. Get out your notebooks or post a new blog. Your challenge is this...

In the chapter "Into Action" of Alcoholics Anonymous it says on page 87 "Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer." In our case the writers are not all religious people but believers. So the challenge is to go back over the year and see how we can "Make use of what they offer."

I will be posting eleven posts, one about what I have learned from each writer. Challenge yourself! See what you can or have learned from the writers. Boost your spirituality for the Holiday season. Make time for spiritual growth. Stay tuned for more!