Courage

[Music]

I attended a meeting this morning. The topic of discussion was the Serenity Prayer. I heard a lot of talk about God granting the serenity, accepting the things I can't change, and the wisdom to know the difference, but nothing about the courage it takes to change. I submit to you all that it takes a lot of courage to do what we did in the beginning and what we do day to day.

When I think about the first step, I realize how unmanagable my life was way before I ever drank for the first time. That's why alcohol did for me what I couldn't do for myself. I'm grateful that I found alcohol 'cause some folks use drugs of all sorts and some just kill themselves rather than continue on feeling crappy. Alcohol kept me going long enough to find AA. The courage really comes in when we make the decision to try living without alcohol. I believe that's why the Big Book says that we have to reach the point when we can't imagine continuing on drinking, and we can't imagine trying to live without drinking. I realize some of us drank longer than others but in my case, my drinking lasted about 16 years...give or take. That was a 16 year period of time, when I relied upon a liquid drug to basically take over my life and govern my decision making process. I remember asking Jerry, my first sponsor what I had to change. His answer was "EVERYTHING". That scared me to death. I just looked up courage in Websters and what I read is: "mental or moral strength to venture. perservere, and withstand change, fear or difficulty".

Alcoholics have been accused of lacking in will power. How many of us got up on days when we wished we were dead and went to work anyway? Most regular folks would have called in sick had they felt that bad. How many of us actually give ourselves the compliment of having the amount of courage it takes to virtually change every aspect of our lives in order to better ourselves? For a long time I had to believe in a God of no understanding, just because Jerry asked me to trust him because he believed. I took Jerry's hand an let him guide me along until I kind of got the hang of it. That's blind faith!!

For us alkies, starting out every day takes courage because I for one, don't know if something may happen to me today that could cause me to think a drink might just makes things better. Remember....it ain't alcoholWASM, it's alcoholISM.

[Lily]

Great Post! You know, i do agree my courage is increasing since I can no longer "numb out." sometimes I get a little anxiety...I heard a wise women say recently "Courage is fear that has said it's prayers" I loved this, last night I went some that caused a tiny bit of anxiety and I bowed and said a courage prayer before I left the house, and guess what? It was a wonderful evening! I think a lot of times fears have been more in my head that anywhere else.

Blessings, Lily

[Sapling]

What a great post...I thank you for that.

[24hrsAday]

Remember....it ain't alcoholWASM, it's alcoholISM.[/QUOTE]

it's been a while since i heard that one.. great post Music!

[youbetcha]

If I don't feel a little bit of fear mixed w/my excitement and gratitude about what H.P. has in store for me today, when I wake up in the morning, then something's wrong, thanks.

[Veritas1]

Is courage from me, or is courage from God?

When I read that we may not be inspired at all times, having just made concious contact with God, in our big book...I looked up the word inspired awhile ago.

Inspired....The definition I found was encouraged.

To be encouraged is to have courage.

To be inspired is to be filled with spirit...I think!

To me then courage is spirit also.

When I ask God to give me courage...I am asking God to fill me with the Holy Spirit, God and His power.

Courage comes from God, not me. Faith is my part. Seeking is my part. Prayer is my part...my actions.

I just don't know if courage is something I am creating, doing, or going to take credit for.

I think.

Thanks Music for raising the topic.

[Music]

Originally Posted by Lily

"Courage is fear that has said it's prayers"

Thanks for this reminder Lily. I was in a spot this past January and was driving in Milwaukee. I came to an intersection when an 18 wheeler turned in front of me and guess what was painted on the side of the trailer in big bold letters. "Courage is fear that has said it's prayers....God." Boy did I ever need to see that. Message received!!

Veritas, if the above statement is true that courage is fear that has said it's prayers, then I guess one could say courage comes from God, unless you pray to someone else....LOL. I'd like to think that on the first day I came to AA that God took away the fear I had and replaced it with courage. It sure wasn't my idea.

[Sapling]

Originally Posted by Veritas1

Courage comes from God, not me. Faith is my part. Seeking is my part. Prayer is my part...my actions.

I agree...This is courage to me.

Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them.

[DayTrader]

Courage to change the things I can....

To me, that suggests God WILL give me power and abilities to change "things" (things like the same ppl, places and things so many AA's still claim they're powerless over.... hhmmm).

The "problem" for me though is I don't necessary FEEL that power all the time.....nor do I necessarily have the belief that it's present - lack of faith. Hence.....Courage. Courage to do the right thing, take the right step, give up something I think I need, not pursue something I want, not try to control something I shouldn't / am powerless over (even when I don't think I'm powerless over it).....courage to ACT as if I have faith even when I don't. When I can do this and things work out just fine (like they alllllllways do when I act as I should)....faith is the result. In a way, faith (or stronger faith....or renewed faith) IS something I play a part in creating. It comes as the natural result of me taking actions in accordance with God's will for me. Perhaps "blind faith" is the more appropriate term?

One of my early teachers in AA is big on identifying whether it's really powerlessness in a given situation......or is it lack of courage to apply the power given to us by God. A lot of the time for me.....it's lack of courage / blind faith. But.....not as much today as in the past and it's an area where I'm finally able to see some improvement.

[PaperDolls]

Serenity, Acceptance, Courage, Wisdom .... Serenity, Acceptance, Courage, Wisdom .... Serenity, Acceptance, Courage, Wisdom ....


I often find myself chanting those words over and over when I'm feeling really stressed out or angry or I feel myself trying to control something. I suppose it's a bit lazy but it sure helps.