UnixBer

It's been a pretty good day today and I had an inspiration while reading here on SR.

It is about the concept of the higher power. It has to do with my own experiences as well, but not directly related to any one higher power or such.
So, what does the word 'Higher' mean for you in the Higher Power. Because 'High' is a measure, in let's say altitude. This caused me to ponder on this issue. Why has the word "higher" stuck with this concept?

So the idea I really had about this, is that there are powers or a there is a power. Yet it is not in any way higher, lower, bigger or smaller. Do you get what I mean? It's a strange thing. Let's add some rational thinking to it to make a kind of a model of this. Say there is a power, we choose to call it a HIGHER power, and since it exists for us, we can also say that even in its finest form, be it spiritual or otherwise, it still exists, therefore we can call it an 'entity' here and have maybe even some tangible experience with it. Because we experience it, it is now tangible for us, as experience in one way or another.

We are past denying that a power exists. Here, still... the power doesn't have to be in any way higher or lower, wider or narrower. But it could also be around, inside, nowhere, everywhere. This caused the inspiration. The power isn't necessary high as in altitude, but it could mean it is expansive or something like that. Any thoughts welcome. Bring your ideas.

bigsombrero

How long have you been sober? I don't have too much to add to your thoughts, just curious. Good to see you're expanding your thoughts on sobriety and embracing life!

pinkdog

Hi Unix, to me higher means above. Superior. More knowledgable. Very best thoughts to you

BrokenBeloved

Your thoughts are deep and perplexing, but don't get caught up in the symantic lexicon verbiage of "Higher" (Power). In the sense that it's used here on SR, and in recovery circles, it just means a power greater than our ability to control our substance of choice. To some (including me) it's the God of the universe and of the Bible. To others, it's simply that force that has more power to keep them using than their own personal (will) power to not use. Either way, it requires surrender.

GracieLou

For me it is a force that has more power to keep me sober than I did. I did not go to my HP, it came to me. It told me it was time and gave me a gift and the strength to quit and continues to give me that strength and willingness.

I use the word God or Lord but not in the biblical sense. I guess I could just give it another name like Steve but God or Lord feels right to me.

I keep my HP thoughts simple. If I make it to hard or my minds spins to much then I am creating my own demise. I came to believe in a power greater than myself, I am not complicated so either is my HP.

UnixBer

Thanks folks. Now these are some amazing answers, didn't expect something so great.

BigSombrero: Sober for 52 days now... things suddenly improved a few days back.

Those describing words of "more knowledgeable" also rings pretty good, didn't think of that before. It may be a good summing-up description of the meaning of higher.

And yes, life is definately better sober. I couldn't have had these kinds of good ideas or even be able to analyze and really think for myself when I was drinking.

Excellent ideas and inspiring guidelines.

losteverything

I guess I could just give it another name like Steve..

That made me and HP chuckle, thanks.. Yo, Steve, still slaving away with that whole handling the universe thing? dude.....

ChefUK

I don't understand it at all because I'm not in the slightest bit religious.

visch1

How important is it? It was pointed out it's not me and that's that. Higher power can be the wife, the policeman, the judge, jailer, your boss and so forth. So be it, I finally accepted mine. BE WELL

Junegirl

Yes, as pinkdog said, for me it's superior and more knowledgeable. Nothing to do with religion or my sobriety for me. I'm not at all religious but I'm very much into my HP. He's been whispering to me what I need to do about my drinking and I finally made the choice to listen and do it. How do I know he exists and is here with me? When I'm alone in a quiet place, I can feel that I'm not alone. That's the explanation I give my agnostic friends and they just think I'm woowoo.
Interesting question, UnixBer.

June

bigsombrero

I know that in my 3rd month of sobriety I really started thinking super deep thoughts. Many refer to it as the "pink cloud", when all of a sudden there is a moment of clarity and thirst for understanding, etc. Some dismiss this as a "phase", but I actually find it is a wonderful stepping stone for developing and continuing new life philosophies. Whatever the reason, glad you are exploring different topics - it's fun to be able to use your brain again, isn't it?

UnixBer

True it is nice to be able to use the brain at least somewhat better and even design something. It is thanks to sobriety. You could also be right about the "pink cloud" - thinking, and if so, I wouldn't dismiss this as a phase either, although it might later come to be seen that I was still a bit off with my perception and in my inspiration I was just rushing forward without minding where.

I think during these times, there are subtle perceptions that give inspiration and insight. And for whatever reason so, that insight can be used as long as the idea doesn't turn out to be entirely something else. But that can and has happened to me as well. Strange thing that recovery of the brain I'd say.

About being religious, that's the last thing I am. I don't pray to a God, male or female. I don't believe that within this planet's atmosphere in a cloud of water sits an angry bearded Human-figure with a childish tantrum and hammer in hand ready to judge his or her creations. LOLs. (sorry religious people, no offence here, just stating). It's just that the Bible should banish people away from religion because it is sometimes so wacky. The bible, without myself being religious, may still contain some wisdom, even though it may be difficult to read in between but there must be something like that also.

Still I appreciate the concept of a higher power, because I don't believe that we are alone in this universe. There are forces, beings, ETs etc. out there.
Actually, one interesting theory I once read somewhere: It is about why people look into the sky when they pray and not left or right or straight. The theory states that in the early times, the Gods (notice many gods, not just one) came from the skies with the bright vessels (aliens, ETs?) and they heard prayers (telepathy?) and had a will to help the people. Just one theory but also quite interesting. As a scientific person, that sounds more appealing to me than the regular God-version. Stay sober and keep using your brain!

tomsteve

pretty deep. pretty typical for an alcoholic to complicate a simple program.

a power greater than me that can help me with all my problems.

I had a higher power at one time. it was alcohol. it didn't help me solve anything.

I got a new one.

Threshold

I like the adjective "expansive". That is a good description for my HP.

I tend to run on fear and fear gives me tunnel vision and my HP nudges me out of tunnel vision and is a reality check that sometimes I take seriously enough to make a better choice for myself.

Nuudawn

lol..that was my perception of God/Bible/Religion before I started exploring it. It is not my perception now that I have further knowledge. I still do not consider myself "religious" as I identify that with a more "dogmatic"...rules and regulations (with an unconscious expectation of return...whether that be simply God's favour) state of mind.

Humans have a way of b*stardizing beautiful wisdom and wrecking the whole damn thing by turning people off with the wrong message. It happens with the Spirit and it happens in AA. Thankfully, the wisdom remains.

Junegirl

This!! ^^^

Nuudawn, as someone else said, you have a way with words.

June

nfijules

Some of the girls I have sponsored dont get the Higher Power thing.....I finally came up with something that makes it click for them.....I explained it as an imaginary friend who to go to. Eventually throughout time and practice, that person grows into your God or Higher power. It works for them and just trying to keep it simple.

UnixBer

nfijules: that's a very nice and simple way to express it. I could propably do that.

But now since Bible got some points I can't resist writing some bible bloopers:
The bible does contain, imply or exert:
* Racism against homosexuals (shame on them who wrote that)
* Promoting the use of alcohol ("have some wine to feel fine", check the bible or google)
* Annoyingly moralizing things (thou shalt not look at thy neighbours wife. <- WHAT? If they choose me, what can I do. Moralizing is the it, the dark black cloud of society.)
* Magick [dark as well] (now, as many of you know, the bible is not the original bible today, the full bible contains the so called "black bible" and it is just a part of the bible that was there originally... it contains rituals and magic things with animal sacrifices... to cause harm or to gain riches etc... just find the information if you don't believe this)
* Portrays an often angry and savage God (a god of destruction?) <- see how god judges his people... be it plague or whatnot.
* Porn (well, sexual parts in the bible, the love-pages... nothing negative, just one thing it does contain.)
* Vicious rules that are against the human nature. Such as chastity = inhibiting sex (natural and healthy) and a host of other kind of 'brainless' rules to follow.

On the positive side, the bible has positive stories and emphasizes good will as well.

tomsteve

you have a very deep misunderstanding of Gods word.


yes, God does talk about drinking wine, but not like an alcoholic.
it is NOT thou shalt not look at thy neighbors wife. he says:
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

covet-to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others.

majick?? are you serious??? that's just too funny.


there are none of these so called "bloopers" in Gods word. the "bloopers" are written my misinformed people like you.

get into a bible study if ya want to learn the REAL meaning of Gods word and not yer screwed up conception.

UnixBer

Maybe misconception but I didn't write the book. The word covet is interesting. To desire wrongfully. Well here we go with the moralizing again.

Is it so that according to bible thinking something is a sin? Desiring something not so common is a sin? Good God. What is the world coming to.

About that Majick, it looks like a J but it's actually a G, it's easy to misread. But it's magick, like magic. I don't remember who wrote those missing parts that's today called the "black bible". I've read a version of it, and I tell you, it's pretty gloomy.

Next time you go to a legit bible study how about you do some googling first and ask them to get to page "written by this character" etc. Maybe you'll be surprised. Maybe not. Don't mean to offend true believers in Gods word but I think the Bible is man-made and if it contains or contained even one chapter that is said to be the word of the devil, I don't see how the rest of the book couldn't be written by the same lad.

One nice thing about the bible. I know some people who are so brainwashed by the fear of god that they are afraid of burning a bible. Well, I never understood this and experimented myself. I burnt many bibles and nothing special happened. If the bible is truly sacred and the word is indeed God's word, wouldn't it be fireproof? I know truth is fireproof. It doesn't die. A bible does. Mm..