Ann

You are reading from the book Touchstones

I'm not into isms and asms. There isn't a Catholic moon and a Baptist sun. I know the universal God is universal.... I feel that the same God force that is the mother and father of the pope is also the mother and father of the loneliest wino on the planet.
--Dick Gregory

In this program we seek conscious contact with God as we understand God. Some people understand God in very specific ways as a Jewish God, or a Christian God, or Moslem Allah. Others understand God in very general and unspecific ways. To some, God is the spirit of group relationships, the deeper consciousness of each man, or the whole of creation. When the word God is used in this program, it respects the different knowing of each person.

Whatever understanding a man has, this program includes his perspective. It dictates none. This is a spiritual program, not a religious one. We often see our Higher Power was with us as a helpful force, long before we knew about it.

Today, I am grateful for God's care. May I learn to increase in trust and. knowledge of God.

From Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men ©1986, 1991 by Hazelden Foundation

Ann

I have seen so many people in recovery struggle with the concept of God. Most times I see it overcomplicated and stressful for them.

I needed to find my own concept of God when I came into recovery, I could no longer accept the concept of hellfire and damnation that I had known as a child.

I began by seeing God as everything that is good in the universe, and felt His presence every time I watched a sunset or saw the stars or felt peace for the first time in many years. My concept grew as I embraced the wisdom of many teachings and as I developed a personal relationship with Him through prayer and meditation. Today he is the Light in my life, that which leads me to where I am supposed to be. He is that inner voice called instinct or Truth or just wisdom that I know does not come from me.

However you choose to understand God, whatever you choose to call Him, just know that He is there for you and walks with you every day.

Hugs

SaTiT

Thanks for sharing that Ann

As for myself , i grew up with a damning god. So when I saw
that word on the wall. I didn't really wanted to hang around.
The fellowship love me long enough until I can learn how to love
myself. my sponsor told me not to worry about working the 12 steps
for a while...right up my alley.lol Didn't have to work the steps.

But as time went by. I started glancing at the steps...I had a
desire to work them....Probably because my sponsor told me
not to work them.lol...You know me, I don't follow directions very will.

Anyway, there was a sort of willingness in me. I didn't know how
I was going to have to deal with this thing call god. God was
something way yarnder, out in the galaxy somewhere that
could strike me with lighting at anymoment....not close or very
useful in my life. Wasn't so sure if i needed to trun into a monk
to stay sober. A thought of me just running away to be a monk
did entered my mind...But there was this good looking babe, so I
wanted to hang around.lol

Then i had a brain fart oneday, after hearing the 12 steps
and traditions being read so many times. And I was told that
I had a chioce so many times. The words from tradition #2.
After all AA seem to be peaceful and I felt that presence somehow.
I figure if a loving god could express itself in AA...maybe a loving
God could express itself in my conscious, in my life.

Nobody forced me to think like that. So there was a sort
of belief in me. As wierd as i'm and being so immature.
I figure i had nothin to loose. I choose a HappY Ball to be my
HP. It had a smile on it's face to remind me to be happy,
I was miserable as heck. I gradully made myslef smile everyday.
And i can talk at it, without it striking me back
I'll even throw god at the wall when I get mad.
I was mad at god for taking my duaghter away from me.
I was mad at god for making live another day
God wasn't in my heart at that time...But god was
in my house smiling and not way out there.

My perceptions about a lot of thinks changes throughout
my recovery. I don't fully understand god, but it's okay
Something must be working.