Just Passin' It On

[Nyte Byrd]

God in His wisdom selected this group of men and women to be the purveyors of His goodness. In selecting them through whom to bring about this phenomenom He went not to the proud, the mighty, the famous not the brilliant. He went instead to the humble, to the sick, to the unfortunate. He went right to the drunkard, the so-called weakling of the world.

Well might He have said to us, "Unto your weak and feeble hands I have entrusted a power beyond estimate. To you has been given that which has been denied the most learned of your fellows. Not to scientists or statesmen, not to wives or mothers, not even to My priests or ministers have I given this gift of healing other alcoholics which I entrust to you."
"It must be used unselfishly; it carries with it grave responsibility. No day can be too long; no demands upon your time can be too urgent; no case can be too pitiful; no task too hard; no effort too great. It must be used with tolerance for I have restricted its application to no race, no creed, and no denomination. Personal criticism you must expect; lack of appreciation will be common; ridicule will be your lot; your motive will be misjudged. You must be prepared for adversity; for what men call adversity is the ladder you must use to ascend the rungs toward spiritual perfection, and remember, in the exercise of this power, I shall not expect from you beyond your capabilities."

"You are not selected because of exceptional talents; and be careful always, if success attends your efforts, not to ascribe to personal superiority that to which you can lay claim only by virtue of My gift. If I wanted learned men to accomplish this mission, the power would have been entrusted to the physician and scientist. If I had wanted eloquent men, there would have been many anxious for the assignment, for talk is the easiest used of all talents with which I have endowed mankind. If I had wanted scholarly men, the world is filled with better qualified men than you who would be available. You were selected because you have been the outcasts of the world and your long experience as drunkards has made or should make you humbly alert to alcoholics everywhere."

"Keep ever in mind the admission you made on the day of your profession in AA, namely that you are powerless and that it was only with your willingness to turn your life and will unto My keeping that relief came to you."

Author Unknown

This is my first post here and hoping to post more. My name is Bob and have been an active and sober member in AA since 1987. I would like to spend some time reading through the rest of the forum but I already know I will not be disappointed with the inspiration I will find. HE has never let me down! I came across this forum by pure coincidence. By golly! I just love those coincidences! May they never cease in my life.

[Nyte Byrd]

Riders on the Storm (This Man I Met)

When I was younger, so much more so than today,
'twas then I saw her, so white and pure, come prancin' 'cross my way.
I admit, I was so scared, I never rode before;
but wasn't long that she and I were riding on the shore.

She quickly 'came part of my life and gently filled my soul.
I found I missed her when she was gone, my life, it was not whole.
Lovely mare, who fills my dreams, I'll take you in my arms.
So secure, I could not fail, no one could do me harm.

As I would sleep, her casting shadow watched me through the night.
I listened to her godly words, that this was oh so right.
When troubles grew, she stood by me, the only one who stayed;
I held her near when I was hurt, alone or just afraid.

I'd often try to leave her, but she'd be there in my dreams.
She'd show up in my deepest thoughts, she'd be part of my schemes.
Her love, it grew quite selfish, the most important thing.
'twas then that I had realized, that was not just a one night fling.

I tried to hide and runaway, but she'd always track me down.
She'd be there on the corner of every city, every town.
I couldn't live without her, my body called her name;
without her here in my arms, my life was not the same.

Suddenly our love had turned, she soured in my blood.
Rainy days became my life, the shores turned into mud.
The more I tried to jump off, the faster she would run.
Her spirit killing coldness blotted out the warming sun.

I figured I would one day find a way to change her course,
but my dreams became my nightmares while I rode upon this horse.
One day, I finally fell off, I hurt from head to toe.
A man, he did approach me, he said, "Son, just let go."

I met a room of riders, who rode this hellbent steed.
They gave me hope to believe again, they helped to plant the seed.
A twelve step stairway was before me, I stared at those ahead.
This man I met was with me, I shook as I was led.

He smiled and said, "It's over, you needn't hide nor run."
I knew now that I had enough, I stood upon step one.
I took the little hope I had, sincerely watched in grow.
The other riders on the storm had much to tell and show.

I began to believe in those I met, although at first a few.
I came to believe that they could help, I now stood on step two.
This man I met, he asked me, "What is it you decide?
Do you want to gamble some or do you let it ride?"

I told this man, whom I believed, was greater than myself,
that I had felt I trusted him, I gave him all that's left.
"I know I'm beat and I believe that you know better than me".
It was then I stood my first time upon the next step three.

I asked this man just who he was, he said the same as I.
He said, "Go ahead and take a look, but above all else, don't lie."
And when I saw what I'd become from about age nine or ten,
I took a sheet of paper and used an old Bic pen.

I wrote down all that bothered me, give or take a little more.
This man looked at me approvingly as I moved up to step four.
He told me I should share this, with someone I could trust.
I asked him, "Do I have to?", he said "Oh yes, you must."

The fear, it overwhelmed me, I stopped dead in my tracks;
I tunred around and shuddered, "Oh no, I can't go back."
This man, he said he'd listen if I told him all my fears.
Somehow I felt God listened as I read holding back my tears.

The bag of doubts I carried that was filled with guilt and shame
did not feel quite as heavy when I learned I was not too blame.
I felt relieved to admit to him, I was glad to be alive;
and if God were there, I think He'd say, "You've made it to step five."

I learned to pray that I could see just what this meant to me.
I realized as time went by, I'm where I'm supposed to be.
And 'though I felt awareness of just who I really am,
I felt so damned inadequate, a defective little man.

These flaws here in my character, the ones that paved the way
for the life that I have lived so long, right on into the day
have revealed a startling truth to me, burned into my brain.
I look back with much reflection, my life had been insane.

That's when it really hit me, I must change all that I could.
I needed to start living a life of what is good.
The man I met said, "Don't ask me, this is not my cue."
He said, "I hope this does not sound too cruel, but the rest is up to you."

That's when I knew there was only one chance left for me.
I needed to learn how to pray, so my spirit would be free.
I was tired of feeling angry, my pride I could not fix.
That's when I became ready to move up to step six.

I looked up to the heavens, I said, "Hey God, it's me!
self-centered with an ego and selfish as can be.
I know now that you see this, I am no longer blind
It's all that I am made of, of my soul and of my mind."

"Humbly, I beseech Thee, My God, who art in heaven,
I'll do my best to start to change", I looked upon step seven.
The man I met said, "Remember those that you had brought on harm."
I thought of mom, I thought of dad, I saw scars on my arm.

The lies I lived were many, they severed valued trust.
If I've a chance to go on, amends they are a must.
So I wrote down names of those I owed, the ones I hurt so bad,
although I could not repay those with the little that I had.

The man I met said, "That's okay, as long as you are willing."
I knew I was and this day I'd start, what a brand new feeling!
Some I knew I'd just let go, more harm would come than good,
'twas then that I had realized it was on step eight I stood.

I sought out those I knew I hurt just to say I cared.
I told them what my motives were, and now the truth was bared.
I became responsible and paid back those I owed,
'though forgiveness was not important, at least that's what I was told.

With debts repaid and right was done, I gazed at this step nine;
one thing I could not give back at all, and that one thing is time.
As each day now passes by I sit back and I reflect
what I took for granted and all that I neglect.

Another day will be brand new, I learned how to atone.
I give an honest day at work, I handle things at home.
I think about my motives as to what, where, how and when.
I do this everyday now, I stepped upon step ten.

The man I met, he had a look I could not quite define.
He seemed so calm and so serene, a real peace of mind.
I somehow knew what I must do now if ever I'm to grow;
and so that night I laid there and prayed that I could know

Just what it is I'm doing and that it is God's will.
These things I have been doing up to then until.
I used to play craps in the hall, but never rolled a seven,
but here I am now, calmly swaying on step eleven.

The man I met, he stood before me, one step ahead of me.
I asked him "Was there room there, so I could get to see?"
I didn't know how he got there, the answer was not clear.
The man, he smiled and looked at me with tender loving care.

I asked him, "Sir, what must I do to get to where you are?
You seem so close and yet somehow the answer seems so far."
He told me that "it's easy, this is all you need to do,
go down to help another up just as I did for you."

I turned around and looked back, there stood that awesome steed.
A man who had just fallen off looked as if he was in need.
It was then that it had hit me, what I must do, now I know.
I rushed back down to greet him, and said "Son, just let go."

NB 1990 (r)

[Nyte Byrd]

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

[utopia]

lovely stuff, welcome to sober recovery!

[kweather99]

NB,
Welcome to SR! Thanks for this poem, it is wonderful.
Kevin

[Nyte Byrd]

Originally Posted by utopia

lovely stuff, welcome to sober recovery!

Thank you. Good to be here and glad I found this site. Good to see recovery is working all around the world!

[Nyte Byrd]

Originally Posted by kweather99

NB,
Welcome to SR! Thanks for this poem, it is wonderful.
Kevin

Thank you for your kind words Kevin. I am glad you enjoyed the poem. The biggest compliment I ever received on that poem was when I showed it to the first person after I had written it. I had shown it to no one else. The fella had been visiting in Florida from NY and was in AA. After he read it he said to me "Oh yeah, I read this before in NY". Of course, I knew he couldn't have, but yet, I knew, oh yes, he COULD have! It told me I was on the right track and that someone somewhere had the same experience! Nothing we think of is unique. It is just something we all just pass on. That is what makes it wonderful. That many of us can 'identify' with it so much. And the beauty of the steps to me is, that the steps can mean different things to people along the way, in their recovery, and as time goes by. It often gets better beyond anything in one's imagination. Sometimes it gets 'different'.

[utopia]

aye nyte bird. much like life. not better or less than but different.

[Nyte Byrd]

......Especially Now!

http://www.positivepause.com/en/

[Nyte Byrd]

A Church-goer wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper and complained
that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.

"I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So I think I'm wasting time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much
to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this
clincher:

I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some
32,000 meals, but for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a
single one of those meals. But I do know this:

They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the
impossible!

Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

[Nyte Byrd]

T H E G A R D E N

Come to the garden alone,
while the dew is still on the roses....


FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,


PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul


PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness


PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another


NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another


TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends


WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

[Nyte Byrd]

Shipwreck

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the
men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two
survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other
recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more
powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on
opposite sides of the island. The first man prayed for food.

The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of
the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of
land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a
wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was
a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the
island, there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day,
like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man
still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could
leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of
the island.

The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the
second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to
receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven
booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"

"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,"
the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does
not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer,
which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my
blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I
should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone,
but those of another praying for us.

This is too good not to share. With obedience come blessings. My prayer
for you today is that all your prayers are answered. Be blessed.

"What you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself"
This was shared with me by a friend, I hope you will share with your
friends, if you choose to do so. Have a great day!

[Nyte Byrd]

A man who had fallen into a hole of despair was feeling hopeless. He could not seem to end the vicious cycle that his life had evolved into from his years of drinking and drugging.

When he was feeling his worst, his mother came by, and he pleaded from the abyss he was in, "Mother, please help me!".

But, alas, he was too far down for her to help him. Before she left, she said to him, "I am sorry, my son, but this evening I shall go home and weep a tear for you."

Soon, a priest walked by and also heard his pleas. But once again, any attempts for the priest to reach down to pull him out had failed. As the priest walked away, he told the man, "I shall go home this evening and say a prayer for you!"

Yet, later, a physician was passing by and looked down into the hole to see where the voice in distress was coming from. And, still, the doctor could not rescue him. Before the doctor left, he threw down a piece of paper to the man and said, "Well, if you ever do get out, here's a prescription for something that may ease your pain."

Now, the man in the hole really felt there was no hope for him at all and he had all but given up.

Suddenly, another passerby approached the hole. It was a sober gentleman who was in Alcoholics Anonymous and on his way to a meeting. The man in the hole looked up and said, "I don't think there is anything you will be able to do to help me. My mother could not help me. Neither could the priest nor the physician.

The passerby unexpectedly jumped into the hole.

The man in despair was shocked and said "Why the heck did you jump down in here WITH me? NOW we're BOTH stuck down here!".

The passerby from AA, looked at him and smiled and said, "That's okay, my friend. I have been down here already, and I know the way out!"

[CAPTAINZING2000]

bOB,

WELCOME TO THE SITE

GLAD YOU'RE HERE


CHRIS

[Nyte Byrd]

Originally Posted by CAPTAINZING2000

bOB,

WELCOME TO THE SITE

GLAD YOU'RE HERE


CHRIS

Thanks for the welcome, Chris. Hoping to post here occasionally.

[Nyte Byrd]

Poor Joe was whining once again about all his woes in his life. Joe had always felt like his cross was too much to bear, compared to most.

Suddenly, an angel appeared to Joe and told him that God was getting tired of all his whining and He was willing to take his cross from him; but in return, he must select his own cross, of his choosing.

So, the angel takes Poor Joe to the Cross Room where God stood witness to his choice. Joe looked around the room and saw ALL size crosses; large ones, medium ones and even small ones. But behind a table, almost hidden was this tiny little cross all by itself. Well, Joe spotted that particular tiny one and immediately yelled, "I want THAT one! After all I have gone through, I think I deserve that tiny one behind the table."

The angel looks at God with a slightly puzzled look, and God tells the angel, "Well, give him what he asks for!"

So, the angel gives Poor Joe the tiny little cross and sends him on his way back.

God looks at the angel and says, "Why were you so confused by his choice?"

The angel replies, "well, I couldn't understand why You gave him back the same cross you took from him!"

[CAPTAINZING2000]

Bob,
might want to go to the newcommer site and say hello to everyone. Sometimes, the threads down at the bottom of the page get over looked

Chris

[Nyte Byrd]

Originally Posted by CAPTAINZING2000

Bob,
might want to go to the newcommer site and say hello to everyone. Sometimes, the threads down at the bottom of the page get over looked

Chris

Thanks. I will check that out.