Acceptance and Self Acceptance… 5/30/21

From page 417 of the “Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous”  

Combine the two.  Accept everything you are directly powerless over (people, places, things, events, and your own feelings).  Then add to that accepting yourself as you are with all your character defects and character assets and your entire history.  This leaves you free to be exactly who you are.  No needing to get on the stage and play a role for other people’s acceptance or approval.  Isn’t it easier being in “the now?”      Peace, John 

Will you volunteer to become a guest blogger?  It’s easy – find a quote that speaks to you and write a few sentences about it and what it means to you, or what it means in general. Send it all to me in an email with subject line reading “Guest blogger.”  I will review and publish it, with gratitude, and with the hope that others will benefit from it as well. If you need some help, I can furnish you with a quote or several to pick from – I have hundreds of them. Let me know.   Peace,  John  

Praying…. 11/6/2016

I used to think that I wanted to pray like a fella in my prayer group. When I shared that with him, he set me straight. He told me that my “talk time” with God was not supposed to be like his.  He then told me whatever I had to offer to God in prayer was 100% acceptable to God.  It took a long time of thinking about that and coming to believe it.

Sometime later I spoke with a trusted spiritual guide.  I shared with her that I felt guilty for not taking the time to pray the way I thought I should. She asked what I meant and I told her that I had good intentions of setting aside time but then I got caught up in the things of the day, my work and didn’t get to it.  I did tell her that I prayed in church and sometimes with certain clients.  She asked me if I had conscious awareness of God throughout my day. I told her yes, that often I think of Him in the “inter-stitches” during the day, times between activities, times when I’m in my car, and times when I’m in transitions. She simply said to me, “That’s prayer!” I was taken aback, but as I reflected on it, I realized she was right. She also told me not to worry about the structure and the amount of time. She also asked how God communicates with me. I told her in different ways – sometimes an idea in my head (“aha”), sometimes something from my reading, sometimes in a song or the words of another person, sometimes in what I see and, at times, just a sensation in my heart.  She also pronounced this as fine and told me I was on the right track.  I was relieved, but it still took me a while to work this through and to let some of the guilt dissipate for not doing it “the right way.”

“The power is in the One who hears it.”  The receiver has all the power. He is a better listener than I!  He hears and knows everything, even my weak and sometimes infrequent attempts to communicate with Him.  He loves me just as I am, with all my shortcomings, blemishes and character defects – I’m still trying to wrap my head around that one!  He doesn’t judge – He just loves me for who I am.

Be mindful of God’s presence in your life and you are already praying.  Your prayers are not wasted.  Be humble, contrite, thankful and ask on behalf of your self, and others. When in doubt, to paraphrase Mother Teresa, “Pray anyway!”

Judging & loving … 12/22/13

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” ~ Mother Theresa

This is about one of my character defects for sure.  I tend to judge people – less than I used to.  The question for me becomes, if I don’t judge people “somewhat,” how will I know which ones might have a negative impact on me? Where’s the line in “somewhat?” and, if I judge them “somewhat” can I still love them? I think the answer lies in judging their behavior, the choices they make, but being able to love them for who they are, human like me and capable of  poor choices. I think Mother Theresa had it right.  Judging someone and loving them unconditionally are mutually exclusive.  Who have you judged recently and what can you do to separate their behavior from who they are and to resume loving them?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to each of you reading this, and to your families and loved ones.    Peace, John