TOPIC: Where Are You Now In Your Program?

[aasharon90]

Hi Im Sharon and Im an Alcoholic.

By the Grace of my HP and people like
you here in Bikers and SR I havent found
it necessary to pick up a drink of alcohol
since 8-11-90.

For that and you I am truely grateful.

Let's see. Where am I in my program
right now....hmmmm....

A good place as i think about it.

I wasnt always in a good place but
following the directions provided to us
in recovery, I seemed to have plowed
my way to a more simplier, serene place
in my life.

Now dont get me wrong, I do have my
moments where anxiety gets the best of
me, especially when i get to far ahead
of myself. However, as i apply those
wonderful sayings we've learned along
the way, like take it easy....or EASY DOES IT,
KEEP IT SIMPLE....OR K.I.S.S. - KEEP IT
SIMPLE STUPID.... , OR ONE DAY AT A
TIME....and so on....i can relax and let those
little bitty things in life that aggrivate
the he** out of me go.

Today, as i embark on a new change....
almost divorced....new adventures and
interests.....learning to ride a motorcycle
in a class June 20....moving into our new
bakery....ambrosiabakery.com...in a
few months....an awesome friendship/
relationship....all provided by the Man
upstairs.....

GIFTS....what terrific gifts to be so graciously
accepted just by doing the next best thing
in recovery.....just by being honest in
all my affairs....just by keeping my side
of the street clean....just by living life
on lifes terms.....just by turning my will
and life over to the care of my HP as i
understand Him.

Just by sharing my own experiences,
strengths and hopes with you and others.
Just by giving away all that was freely
passed on to me.

Today, because of all that I am truely
GRATEFUL.

Thanks for letting me share.

[Hurricane]

I have a program again today.
I was simply not drinking until I found this forum.
You just don't get the same kind of personal sharing at AA meetings as you do on this board. It's not often I hear about personal higher powers at meetings. Never cared to hear it at meetings. But thanks to some on this board that boldly proclaim there faith in God, I have become a lot closer to God, and I can say it today, Christ. I never say that at AA meetings, but neither would I anywhere. As they say, "we are not saints", but I am trying today to be what God wants me to be. Now, some felt they may need to stop sharing their faith on this board for what ever reason, but I can say this, I would not be were I am in my program today, had they never shared it.
I am grateful.

[recoveringnky]

Love ya Hurricane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rarly Harley]

Today, I have Love in my life, the greatest gift of all, for me. The following statement sums it all up for me...
" God led me to AA and AA led me to God "....

Of course, my firm belief in this quote came ever so slowly. To elaborate a bit more, I'm including a post of mine, from last year...... I am also enclosing a link to a new video I came across, developed for Founder's Day, called " God as I Understand Him "...
God as we understand Him - a film about faith and the 12 step movement




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I feel very strongly about this subject Brothers & Sisters. I am an AA die-hard and I believe with all my heart that God led me to AA and AA led me to God.
When I entered my first AA meeting however, if you folks had of been thumping the bible, quoting scripture and telling me that I had to be saved, I probably would have kicked all the tables over, caused a mighty rucus, stormed out never to return and died drunk. I thank God for his love of us drunks, that he sent Ebby Thatcher to see Bill Wilson one Sunday morning. Bill was drinking gin in his kitchen when Ebby showed up sober. Bill asked Ebby what happened. Ebby said, " I got religion." Bill automatically thought to himself, " My gin supply will last longer than your preaching."
Now Brothers & Sisters, Ebby replied with God's words, when he said, " Bill, why don't you choose your own conception of God..?" Thus the term " Higher Power " was coined as a life saving term that all drunks could swallow and enable them to begin their spiritual journey. The term " Higher Power " enabled me to stay in AA, period. I firmly believe that God gave us drunks AA, so that all of us, whether athiests, agnostics, non-belivers, God haters, religion & church haters, all of us of every colour & stripe, could get through the wide portal of AA and begin their own individual spiritual journey with a Higher Power of their own choosing. That has certainly been the case for me and today I can freely talk about my daily connection with God, the greatest gift that you AA folks have given me.
In AA meetings however, I am very carefull to say "Higher Power" when I know there are newcomers in the room, so I don't scare them away to certain death, with talk of God. I am also very vocal when anyone else starts to speak in religious terms in an AA meeting, whether it be about the bible, church, or having to be saved by Jesus. I let them know in no uncertain terms that religion has no place in AA and their bible-thumping can actually kill people. I am ever vigilant to the fact that the newcomer is the most important person in any AA meeting and I feel it is my duty to protect them from over-zealous, however well-meaning they are, religion thumpers of various colours & hues. I thank God for AA and all His many blessings in my life and I will continue to step up to the plate to help others find their own path, of their own choosing.....

[Jazzed_N_MD]

A power greater than me has come in many forms. Parents, bigger kid down the block, police, judges. Eventually, my own thinking became greater than me. I could not stop acting out, even when I knew it was wrong and I didn't want to do it.

Then drugs / alcohol came into the picture. My whole life and thinking became centered in drugs in one form or another. The getting, using and finding ways and means to get more. Even when I didn't want to, I still did it. Some days not so much as others, every day this was my goal, my purpose, my agenda.

Today, aside from the judges/ law enforcement, bigger kid down the block, there are still many forms of a power greater than me.

Different from that power, is a God of my understanding. One who guides my through these things that can control me, including my own thinking.

In all the Books it states that there is no god to be before Him. That there is only one true God. I have come to understand that He presents Himself to us all so that we can understand Him. Not that we have to come a certain way or He wont hear us or see us. He sees and hears all.

(I.M."not so"H.O.) For any person to dictate that God is only one certain way and if you don't believe in that way, you die forever, is just wrong. Just look at the news, read the paper, check out history or come into our rooms.

(jumping down from soapbox)
AA/NA have taught me these 2 (and many other) things.
For those that are curious;
1.) I call on God using any of His names or adjectives. Usually though, I say God or Allah or Father.

2.)In my heart, I know I dont need to call Him by any name. He always knows when I am talking to Him and when I need Him, weather I know it or not.

and To make improvements.