Quotes and Lessons Learned
In no particular order, let’s reflect on quotes and lessons learned from:
1) People that have read the Big Book, and
2) from the Big Book itself,
3) a couple of thoughts on prayer,
4) a little humor (Rule 62), and because there is One who has all power,
5) God Stuff (sundry sources & Big Book), and
6) a snippet about Sponsorship.
Oh, I have the Third Edition of the Big Book, but sometimes also cite from the Fourth Edition. Sorry for any possible confusion on that front.
Quotes Heard in Recovery Meetings or Recovery Speeches (as a result of listening):
“Take what you like and leave the rest.” Cy D. (heard on my first day in Friend of Bill Wilson group)
“Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation – some fact of my life—unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.” Dr. Paul, in the Big Book, pg. 449.
“…and we quit fighting everything and everybody…” Big Book 84
However intelligent we may have been in other respects, where alcohol has been involved, we have been strangely insane. It's strong language - but isn't it true? Big Book Page 38
“When I am unwilling to do the right thing, I become restless, irritable, and discontent.” And acceptance have taught me that there is a bit of good in the worst of us and a bit of bad in the best of us; when I complain about me or about you, I am complaining about god's handiwork. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation—some fact of my life —unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is. And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. It works if we have the proper attitude and work at it. (Everyone knows where this quote is).
“When I am willing to do the right thing, I am rewarded with an inner peace no amount of liquor could ever provide.” BB Page 317
“Find out who you are, and then be who you are.” Henrietta, Friend of Lois Wilson
Regarding the Serenity Prayer: Serenity, courage, and wisdom is ‘granted’ when asked for. It’s a gift. Me
“It’s not illegal to be crazy. It’s only illegal to act crazy.” Unknown
Repeating: Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it mean. Meghan H.
In God’s Economy, nothing is wasted. Bill Wilson (also in with the God Stuff)
If you love someone, you will not hurt them.” Gopher State Roundup Speaker
“Change your mind, and your life will follow.” Karen Casey
Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future. Unknown
When I want to make God laugh, I just tell him my plans.” (I’ve heard this countless times through the years).
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our darkness that most frightens us. If I choose to bless another person, I will always end up feeling more blessed.” Marianne Williamson
COMMUNICATION & SELF-CONTROL
Repeating this, because repetition is the Mother of all Learning: “Say what you mean, mean what you say, but don’t say it mean.” Meghan H. (“Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles).” Page 62
“Truth without compassion is cruelty.” Mark L. (This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.). page 82
“Only dogs get mad.” An old friend that made me mad…lol! (…we have a profound alteration in our reaction to life: that such a change could hardly have been brought about by himself alone. What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished by years of self-discipline.) Page 567
PRAYER
The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.
The Set Aside Prayer (We admit we know only a little…more will be revealed…).
I heard The Set Aside Prayer in many ways. Here is one example:
God, Please help me set aside Everything I think I know
About myself, my issues, my solutions, and especially You; For an open mind, And a new experience and awareness With myself and others, my perception, Please help me see the truth.
GOD STUFF
I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all. Page 14 Big Book
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”1 John 4 8
“If you don’t tell at least three people a day that you love them, you have probably wasted a day of your life.” Seth M.
Resting on Creator’s Heart, my life is God’s Medicine Bag. I hear & feel Creators’ Heartbeat. I pray my life & voice echo the sound of God heartbeat. Creator, mold my life into the shape & sound of Your heart. me
“Looking for consciousness in the brain is like looking inside a radio for the announcer.” Nassim H.
“Be still and know that I Am, God.” The Holy Bible
“God’s favorite word is “Impossible”. Lombardi
In God’s Economy, nothing is wasted. Bill W.
“We don't get ready to meet God, so much as we meet God to get ready.” Mary Jo R.
The SET ASIDE PRAYER (abbreviated): God, help me to set aside everything I think I know, so my knowledge doesn’t hurt me or others. Help me learn afresh from you always.
God Esteem goes farther than Self-Esteem. me
It’s none or my business what others think of me. It is also none of my business what I think of me. My only business is what God thinks of me.
Prayer is a friendly conversation with the One we know loves us. St Teresa of Avila 1515 – 1582
Of all the music that reached farthest into heaven, it is the beating of a loving heart. Henry Ward Beecher 1813 – 1887
“First God throws a pebble, then He throws a brick.” Oprah
SPONSORSHIP
The word Sponsor is not mentioned in the first 164 pages. Don’t make a big deal out of it. Help the newcomer get to Step Twelve as quickly as possible, so they can experience the life-changing spiritual awakening that occurs as the direct result of taking the Steps. Reassure the newcomer that our program of recovery will relieve their alcoholism/addiction. Show the newcomer that the process is simple, straightforward and that it really works.
“But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such an understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished.” (BB page 18)
And from Chapter 7: “It is not the matter of giving that is in question, but when and how to give. That makes the difference between failure and success. The minute we put our work on a social service plane, the alcoholic commences to rely upon our assistance rather than upon God. He clamors for this or that, claiming he cannot master alcohol until his material needs are cared for. Nonsense. Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: job or no job - wife or no wife - we simply do not stop drinking alcohol so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God.
Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. No person on this earth can stop his recovery from alcohol, or prevent his being supplied with whatever is good for him. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house.”
RULE 62/HUMOR
THINKERS ANONYMOUS
Do You Think Too Much?
It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then to loosen up. Inevitably though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
I began to think alone - "to relax," I told myself - but I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time. I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"
Things weren't going so great at home either. One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's. I soon had a reputation as a heavy thinker. One day the boss called me in. He said, "Skippy, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job." This gave me a lot to think about.
I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..." "I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!" "But Honey, surely it's not that serious." "It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors, and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking we won't have any money!" "That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently, and she began to cry. I'd had enough. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door.
I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche, with a PBS station on the radio. I roared into the parking lot and ran up to the big glass doors... they didn't open. The library was closed.
To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night.
As I sank to the ground clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked. You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster.
Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting.
I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking.
RBA Board of Trustees Minutes
Monday May 9th, 2022
Meeting Opened at 7:04pm
Opened with the Serenity Prayer and AA Traditions One and Two. Our mission is to manage the property, finances and 501C3 for the RBA.
1. Members Present:
Joe R., Bill M., Cherisse K., Jeff S., Roger B., Norton L., Kate M.
2. Building & Maintenance Report (Jerry Z.):
Jerry was unable to attend the meeting. He stripped and painted the deck area and some of the trim around the club. Jerry also removed the weeds and cleaned up the North fence line.
3. Financial Report:
The April financials were approved unanimously. Nonroutine expenses included semiannual HVAC PM contract and expenses related to the annual banquet. Banquet expenses should be recovered through ticket sales. The board discussed timing and details related to a future pledge drive to address the decrease in donations coupled with the increase in price levels.
4. Old Business:
Old business included Gopher State details and annual banquet information which is ongoing and will be discussed in the new business section below. The minutes from the April meeting were approved.
5. New Business:
The board discussed updates for the planning of the annual banquet. Roger collected and planned to redistribute unsold tickets. We have booked the main speaker for the event, and Roger is working on finding two one-year recipients to speak as well. Kate and Dana Jo have planned the decorations. ABC Catering has been great to work with, and Roger highly recommends them. Roger plans to order the cakes in coming days.
The RBA hospitality suite for Gopher State is coming together nicely. Kate M and her team have a detailed plan in place and intend to meet again to finalize the details before the event. QCumbers will provide food.
The board discussed the phone service for the club. We currently have our line set up to forward calls to Minneapolis Intergroup if no one answers. We are the only club that depends on Intergroup for this service, so we may consider staffing this internally.
JTD Vending notified the club they would be pulling the machines due to inadequate revenue from our site. These plans have changed, and the vending machines will remain at RBA.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:03pm following The Lord’s Prayer.
Comments