Blog entry for:

Sat, Apr 23, 2011 09:04:32 AM


〈 i have come to understand God to be simply THE force keeps me clean 〉
posted: Sat, Apr 23, 2011 09:04:32 AM

 

well, as i continue to write through my THIRD STEP, i find these little exercise in defining the shape of my spiritual direction to be enlightening. not that i need tons and tons of light shed upon this issue, nor do i need to rehash the old stuff that brought me to my understanding today. i can say, in summary, that after a long and winding road, i am basically right back to where i started.
no i am not an arrogant agnostic trying my best to disqualify himself from a collection of superstitious peasants. nor have i become a “GOD hater,” as i once was when i first approached this concept. no after my uncovery journey, i have found that the POWER that fuels my recovery is more than an adequate understanding to base my FAITH upon.
since i have arrive at a break in my thoughts, the first rest stop as it were, it is time to say:

Congrats on 28 years clean, Carlos,
Thank you for putting up with me!

i do not find it coincidental that i happen to be working a THIRD STEP and that the portion i happen to have written on this morning was turning it over. i am certain, that no matter where i was in my step journey, i would have found this reading appropriate. what it does do, is focus on where i am going in this step cycle. i have been kind of floating here, waiting for direction, as the direction that seemed to be indicated when i started these steps seems to be fading out of focus as new events overtake me in my life. i am now starting to see, that my reexamination of my early recovery has been essential for determining where i am going, and although there is no map, i am starting to have more than a bit of FAITH, that all i have to do is move forward and everything will be alright. i am also getting a clue, that perhaps today would be a good day to take off from running. it is true that it is not snowing all that bad right now, and there is very little wind, BUT in my gut i sense that getting stuff done on the front side is perhaps a better choice this morning. once again, moving into the uncharted territory of going on FAITH and not CERTAINTY. it is a good day to be clean, and in this ever more complicated world, for me simplifying rather than complicating is a good idea. the whole notion of having to define a HIGHER POWER, while once so attractive to me, has become something that i can see, limits instead of increase my understanding of that concept. every time i define, i put a boundary around the limitless POWER that fuels my recovery. every time i try and draw a picture of the face of GOD, i impose my will on the one POWER that has been constantly part of my life, even before i could detect that IT was working in my life, for my betterment. it is a great day and i do believe it is time to get moving forward. i am grateful that the fellowship that provides my spiritual direction is truly neutral on this issue and not just paying lip service while pushing a not so subtle religious bias. it is nice to know that i am on a spiritual path of my own choosing following the guidelines and suggestions of those who have gone before me, one day at a time.

∞ DT ∞

 

djtConsulting Brand
The views expressed on this page are solely the opinion of the author.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.

Another Look!

α the POWER that helps keep me clean α 470 words ➥ Sunday, April 23, 2006 by: donnot
α i may doubt the existence of any sort of POWER greater than myself. ω 562 words ➥ Monday, April 23, 2007 by: donnot
∞ if i am not comfortable with what i learned when i was growing up, i can try a different approach to my spirituality. ∞ 466 words ➥ Wednesday, April 23, 2008 by: donnot
α i do not have to understand everything all at once or find the answers to all my questions right away ω 551 words ➥ Thursday, April 23, 2009 by: donnot
α many may enter recovery with a working understanding of a Higher Power Ω 494 words ➥ Friday, April 23, 2010 by: donnot
¢ i DO remember very uncomfortable experiences with religion ¢ 299 words ➥ Monday, April 23, 2012 by: donnot
≥ all i EVER have to know about a HIGHER POWER, ≥ 582 words ➥ Tuesday, April 23, 2013 by: donnot
‡ starting over in recovery means ‡ 634 words ➥ Wednesday, April 23, 2014 by: donnot
» for me, however, « 650 words ➥ Thursday, April 23, 2015 by: donnot
☯ a GOD ☸ 823 words ➥ Saturday, April 23, 2016 by: donnot
😵 i need not 😶 674 words ➥ Sunday, April 23, 2017 by: donnot
🍑 my belief, 🍋 430 words ➥ Monday, April 23, 2018 by: donnot
🗱 the POWER that 🗜 500 words ➥ Tuesday, April 23, 2019 by: donnot
“ the **GOD** stuff ” 465 words ➥ Thursday, April 23, 2020 by: donnot
👶 understanding 👶 448 words ➥ Friday, April 23, 2021 by: donnot
🙏 a POWER that 🙏 378 words ➥ Saturday, April 23, 2022 by: donnot
💯 the value 👌 453 words ➥ Sunday, April 23, 2023 by: donnot
🧩 i do not 🤷 548 words ➥ Tuesday, April 23, 2024 by: donnot
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☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯

THE TAO TEH KING, OR THE TAO AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge

Book 1

3) Therefore he who would administer the kingdom, honouring it as
he honours his own person, may be employed to govern it, and he who
would administer it with the love which he bears to his own person
may be entrusted with it.