Power over powerlessness

I heard someone at a meeting say this the other day; “I am not powerless over alcohol until I take the first drink.”  That really caught my attention. Had to think about it for some time. 

Flex plans

I have lots of training in project management which involves and skills around organizing, planning and controlling (really good at that one!). So this means when my day starts, or even the night before a somewhat detailed plan emerges in my head – many times I actually create a written document of the planned events…

And then when the day comes I move to the execution phase. That means I go to the first task or event and do it, then to step 2. I do not like getting diverted from my plan, even minor changes irritate me. I like the notion of executing the plan as written and checking off each task when completed.

Choices

I heard someone share a bit of wisdom they had picked up recently. It was so simple, clear and powerful I can't stop thinking about it....

The essence was this;  If  you are unhappy about a situation or event and you had a choice in it, don't complain.

"Do you want to get well?"

 




There is a story in the Bible that really hammered this home to me. I’ve been thinking and talking about it for a long time.

John 5

New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Heals a Lame Man

Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. ² Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda,^[a] with five covered porches. ³ Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.^{[b] 5} One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

⁷ “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

⁸ Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

⁹ Instantly, the man was healed! 

So.........

The guy has been laying there crippled for 38 years. Jesus can heal him in a moment without any action on the man’s part. But instead he asks him this question, “Do you want to get well? Given the mans long term illness, that’s an incredible question to ask, isn’t it? 

A simple prayer of gratitude

What 10 things are you most grateful for today? How will you convey your thanks to God?

My 3rd step river

Early in sobriety I was having trouble with the notion of turning my will and life over to the care of God. I understood all that was being said and all that I was reading. “Let God be the director”, “turn your thoughts and actions over to God”, “Let Him in the driver’s seat” and so on and so on.  “I get it. It makes sense. I want to do this- but I don’t know how.” I shared this frustration at a meeting one night and someone said, “Just take it easy Rick, one day the step will go from your head to you heart”.  Hmmmmm…was my thought to this. Don’t really get that either.

Recovered or Recovering?

When I was writing my book Under Construction, I asked for several people if they would give me a quote for the book. After I got these I asked “How would you like to the quote signed?” For example, Rick H., recovering alcoholic?  Everyone said that would be fine; except one. He said, please add after my name--recovered alcoholic. 

I really wanted the naming convention to be consistent so we decided we would use the format- Rick H- April/3/90 (sobriety date). However, this discussion, like many I had writing my book, led me to research the topic at hand.

Our personal zoo-a venue of peace and serentity

 

 


This morning I woke up and went outside to my deck to have my cup of coffee. It is a beautiful morning. A little mist, but just warm enough to go out in my shorts and tee shirt. No wind, very quiet.