Wednesday, May 27, 2015

May 27, 2015 - Hating Ireland and its gay marriage vote, Westboro Baptist Church misses the boat

Huffington Post: May 27, 2015 - Westboro Baptist Church Tries To Diss Ireland's Gay Marriage Vote, Misses By One Continent

May 27, 2015 - Greenland Parliament unanimously legalizes same-sex marriage, adoption

Gay Star News: May 27, 2015 - Greenland legalizes gay marriage | Gay Star News

May 27, 2015 - Vatican official calls Ireland's gay marriage vote a 'defeat for humanity'

Advocate.com: May 27, 2015 - Vatican Official Calls Irish Marriage Vote 'Defeat for Humanity' | Advocate.com

May 27, 2015 - Appeals court bans New York pro-life license plate as 'patently offensive'

The New Civil Rights Movement: May 27, 2015 - Appeals Court Bans Pro-Life License Plate As 'Patently Offensive' - The New Civil Rights Movement

May 27, 2015 - How Ireland's same-sex marriage has weakened the Catholic Church

The Good Men Project: May 27, 2015 - People Polished the Stone of the Irish Emerald Isle -

May 27, 2015 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden

The Serenity Prayer
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Today's thought from Hazelden is:

Change in all things is sweet.
 -- Aristotle

Newcomer

I don't know why I'm still going through such emotional ups and downs at this point. I'm not in withdrawal, my body chemistry is no longer in chaos, and I know how to take better care of myself. I'm open to many new things, and I'm growing and changing faster than I ever expected. Why should I feel bad?

Sponsor
Each time I reach a new awareness, I have to go through a grieving process for the old me. Suddenly it feels as if I'm someone else, somewhere else. I'm not the person I was yesterday. Even if that person was less conscious and closer to active addiction, still, that person was the me I knew. Sometimes I miss that old familiar self. We'd spent a lot of time together.

Recovery awakens us to new possibilities. We have to change, experiment, take risks - even though we may think we detest change! Being alive and having joy sustains us. We may not have all the answers, but we want to ask the questions. Taking time for daily meditations helps us to find the peace and calm at our center. As recovery continues, the sense that everything is moving too quickly will slow down.

Today, though things may not be different, I am different.
You are reading from the book:
If You Want What We Have © 1998 by Joan Larkin

May 27, 2015 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step

The Serenity Prayer
Step by Step
Wednesday, May 27, 2015 
Today, appreciation to the spouse, companion, brothers and sisters, parents, children and friends who wanted to help me as I spiraled out of control but who I shut out, who were and are still there in my recovery. In being focused on my own recovery and working the Steps, I have probably been negligent to admit that the hell I put someone else through might have been worse than my own. And I have to acknowledge that they, too, have their own recoveries to work. Today, I will be grateful and offer to anyone who stayed with me a simple thank you and, to them, my superior amend is that, today, I can and will stay sober. And our common journey continues. Step by step. - Chris M., 2015

May 27, 2015 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Wednesday, May 27, 2015

AA Thought for the Day
In Twelfth-Step work, the fifth thing is continuance. Continuance means our staying with prospects after they have started on the new way of living. We must stick with them and not let them down. We must encourage them to go to meetings regularly for fellowship and help. They will learn that keeping sober is a lot easier in the fellowship of others who are trying to do the same thing. We must continue to help prospects by going to see them regularly or telephoning them or writing them so that they don't get out of touch with AA. Continuance means good sponsorship.

Do I care enough about other alcoholics to continue with them as long as necessary?

Meditation for the Day
Every strong and beautiful flower must have a strong root in the ground. It must send a root down so that it may be rooted and grounded while at the same time it sends a shoot up to be the flower that shall gladden the world. Both growths are necessary. Without a strong root, it would soon wither. The higher the growth upward, the deeper must be the rooting. My life cannot flower into success and helpfulness until it is rooted in a strong faith, or unless it feels deeply secure in the goodness and purpose of the universe.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that my life may be deeply rooted in faith. I pray that I may feel deeply secure.

Hazelden Foundation

May 27, 2015 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time
Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Reflection for the Day
When I have only myself to talk to, the conversation gets sort of one-sided. Trying to talk myself out of a drink or a pill or a "small wager" or just one chocolate eclair is sort of like trying self-hypnosis. It simply doesn't work; most of the time, it's about as effective as trying to talk myself out of a case of diarrhea. When my heart is heavy and my resistance low, I can always find some comfort in sharing with a true and understanding friend in The Program.

Do I know who my friends are?

Today I Pray
May I be convinced that, as part of God's master plan, we were put here to help each other. May I be as open about asking for help as I am ready to give it, no matter how long I have been in The Program. May the experiences of countless others be enough to prove to me that "talking myself out of it" seldom works, that the mutual bolstering that comes from sharing with a friend usually does.

Today I Will Remember
When I ask for help, I am helping.

Hazelden Foundation

May 27, 2015 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener

The Eye Opener
Wednesday, May 27, 2015

To follow the letter of the law is not enough. You can be moral without difficulty in "solitary."

Do not let your morality be simply restraining and abstaining. Be constructive in your goodness. Be good for something.

Hazelden Foundation

May 27, 2015 - Rise 'n shine to what's going to be a Wonderful Wednesday, folks!