Wisdom For Today - June

[bluidkiti]

June 2

Wisdom for Today
It is important for all of us to remember who we are. It is equally important to remember who other people are. There is one group of people we know that continues to use alcohol, and even drugs, but do not seem to have the sort of problems that we encountered in our own life. These individuals seem to drink normally and even there drug use does not appear to violate their values. We must be careful not to grow intolerant of these people or hate them. This has never proven to be helpful for any addict or alcoholic. We may need to avoid contact with them particularly in drinking or using situations in order to protect our recovery, but to grow resentful toward them because they can still drink or use will not help. The program teaches us that we have no business in drinking or using situations unless we are there for a legitimate reason, such as a family wedding or other celebration. Even then we should only attend if we are in a solid place spiritually.
The other group of people we know are those who clearly have problems with their alcohol and drug use. These people we have no business being around at all unless they call wanting to know more about how we got clean and sober. These twelve step calls are best done with someone else in the program so that we avoid the emotional traps of old friendships. We do not belong in slippery places. We hear at meeting to avoid old people, places and things. This is good advice as we have seen many who have tried to hang out in old haunts who have failed to stay clean and sober as a result. We are people who tend to live life in extremes. In recovery, we cannot afford to do this anymore. We can not live in the extreme of hating all who still use and we cannot live in the extreme of living life on the edge of certain relapse. Have I learned to tolerate those who drink or use in a socially responsible manner? Have I accepted that I must avoid old playgrounds?
Meditations for the Heart
We must learn to live life in a way that petty annoyances do not weigh us down. We can make healthy choices to not react to emotional unrest in others with emotional unrest of our own. We can hold onto the inner peace that God gives us even in the most difficult of situations. We can learn to allow this inner calmness to be our guide in our interactions with others. We no longer need to pick fights with others, and we no longer need to accept invitations to argue with others. This does not mean that we avoid problems, rather we seek solutions to the problems that may arise in and around us. Here we learn that we cannot always rely on our own strength, but we can always draw on His strength. When we lose our inner peace and react to these situations with anger or malice, we are closing the door on God's Spirit. Am I working to keep the door open to His Spirit?
Petitions to my Higher Power
God,
Help me to find healthy balance in my life, my attitudes, and my behavior. Let me always seek tolerance, wisdom and find that which is healthy for me in all I do. Remove from me any judgment of others, and let me not find room in my heart for resentment. Grant me inner peace as I walk through this day.
Amen