[Mark75]

Navysteve alluded to this in another thread and it really hit me that it was something I need to look at in my own life.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

and, of course...

"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."

I have to admit that I have confused apathy with serenity. Perhaps early on that was just a defense mechanism, maybe God's will for me was to just not drink and I sought his power to do that.

Now as I go into my second year and the obsession with alcohol and the compulsion to drink it is lifting, I have a lot more growing left to do. I am a father of four with two in college and I am not done yet being a parent. I am a husband and a homeowner and a business to tend to. Life goes on and the endpoint of my journey is not sobriety, it is just the beginning, it is requisite.

It takes courage, for all of us, alcoholics and non-alcoholics alike, to meet the challenges of life, the needs of others, and, of course, to grow spiritually.

Thanx Steve, I heard something today that I needed to hear.

God, grant me the courage.... Let me listen to your will, give me the power...

Mark