I went to an A.A. meeting one night and listened to a guy share his story. One for the books. He talked about Higher Powers. You see, many people in our fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous choose a higher power like a tree, the wind, a bonfire, and I guess even a door knob. I mention the door knob because I’ve heard a number of people mention it so someone out there must really have chosen this object as their higher power.
His share, especially the part about his higher power, touched my heart. We have the same one. GOD. God is in the big book of A.A. over and over again. This isn’t my humble opinion. It’s a fact I know to be true. I’ve read it and now I’m studying it with my sponsor, like a text. The very last paragraph of the big book is one sentence long and mentions God. The paragraph before this one mentions God twice and makes an incredible statement. One day, I shall read this, when called on, and then close the book with a loud snap. I have a really BIG big book because it’s in really big print. My home group, which is where I got sober so to speak, is in South Lake Tahoe. A number of people that go there do not like to hear others talking about God. In fact, one guy will get up and walk out. Naturally, I have trouble with this. Only because I think I should be able to mention my higher power without someone storming out of the meeting. He can talk about his tree or whatever all he wants, I'm not going to pout or leave if he does.
When I got home that evening I was inspired to write about higher powers. When choosing a higher power you must be very careful. Shall I elaborate? Happy to, in fact, I’ll do more than that. I’ll dig in real deep with a good strong shovel and put my back into it. I think I’ll do OK for an old broad.
A tree – Trees are beautiful, I love them, hugged quite a few over the years. Chestnut trees, Maple trees, all kinds of trees back in Michigan. Too many trees to list in Yosemite, Big Sur and right here in Tahoe. Trees make me smile, sometimes even laugh. The way they can grow, look like other things, and entangle themselves with other life growing close by. The downside. They can be cut down, a storm can take them out, lightning can strike them, they can burn up, be chopped, sliced, mulched … need I go on? I love trees. As a higher power though? I don’t think so. A gift from God which I will always feel Blessed with? Oh Yes.
The wind – Ahh the wind. I love the wind. Sometimes I’ll wake up and hear the wind. My first thoughts are, probably not a good day for kayaking but it might be a great day for flying a kite. When I listen to the wind howl, see the white caps on the lake or my kite shimmy and shake, once again, I feel Blessed. As a higher power though? The wind quickly changes direction, it stops just as suddenly as it blows in. The wind, I think, is another Blessing from God. I don’t believe in weather gods, friend of mine in IL does and he’s a priest. Go figure. As a higher power? If you’re out on a lake, in a sailboat, and the wind stops blowing, then your motor doesn’t work, you’ve no paddles, can’t get one bar on your cell … let’s move on.
A bonfire – oh yeah. I love bonfires; I mean love L U V. I get lost in them. Watching the flames dance, the coals glow, listening to the sounds they make, and feeling the warmth on a cold winter night. Love them. A higher power though? I can put this one out with one word. Water. Bonfires and alcohol, oh dear, I could tell a couple of stories here. They can do some damage, and I Thank God for Neosporin or I could show you some scars. Facial ones. I still love them. Another Blessing to me, a gift from God. A simple pleasure to enjoy. Next up.
A door knob – A good invention and a handy thing to have on a door. My preference however is swinging doors. I’ve always wanted some between the kitchen and living room. They’re fun, can’t be slammed, and you can go through them carrying lots of stuff. No knob to turn. Back to the door knob. It’s just too easy. Use your imagination. But wait, ever see the SpongeBob Squarepants episode where Patrick and SpongeBob order the really big TV because they want the box they know it’s going to be shipped in? Another one for the books. A door knob, imagine that. This has to be one of the worst choices as far as higher powers go. However, that is simply my humble opinion.
Now I think is a good time to talk about my Higher Power. God. My Heavenly Father can not be manipulated by anyone or anything. He is in complete control of everything. I can give all of my heavy burdens to Him and He takes them from me. He loves me no matter what. When I sin, I pray, I confess my sins, ask to be forgiven, and I am forgiven. When I feel weak, I pray and He gives me strength. When my heart aches, I pray, I cry out to my Lord for comfort, and usually, within moments I am crying tears of joy. When I feel I just can’t go on, I’m just too tired; He picks me up and carries me. He never gives me more than I can handle.
I used a lot of I and me words in that paragraph. God is there for everyone. Anyone who reaches out to Him. All you need to do is open your heart. Let Him in. You will be so very glad you did. Honest. I would not lie to you. I am not that type of person. I’m just a plain simple girl, living in this world. It can be a scary place to some these days. This may surprise you but I am not afraid. The news does not terrify me. I quit watching it. The newspaper articles do not break my heart anymore. I rarely read them. Now you may be thinking, oh I get it; you’ve buried your head in the sand. Not at all. I just don’t buy the propaganda anymore. Be afraid be very afraid people. Look what’s happened now. But don’t worry, we got your back. Sorry to tell you though, we have to take away some more of your freedom. We’ll need to tweak this and that which was written long ago.
It’s all gravy, Baby. Our government can do whatever they want to. As long as I have God in my life … it’s all good. It really is.
Have you thought about making some changes in your life? Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? Do you ever feel like you just can’t go on anymore? Without Hope … I did, many times over the years. I thought long and hard about killing myself a few times. Came pretty close to following through a couple of those times. Want to know what happened? I prayed, God listened and saved me from myself. This last time that happened, I promised God I would never turn my back on Him again. I got baptized through my church and gave my life to Him. I am just a humble servant now. I’ve never been so happy.
His share, especially the part about his higher power, touched my heart. We have the same one. GOD. God is in the big book of A.A. over and over again. This isn’t my humble opinion. It’s a fact I know to be true. I’ve read it and now I’m studying it with my sponsor, like a text. The very last paragraph of the big book is one sentence long and mentions God. The paragraph before this one mentions God twice and makes an incredible statement. One day, I shall read this, when called on, and then close the book with a loud snap. I have a really BIG big book because it’s in really big print. My home group, which is where I got sober so to speak, is in South Lake Tahoe. A number of people that go there do not like to hear others talking about God. In fact, one guy will get up and walk out. Naturally, I have trouble with this. Only because I think I should be able to mention my higher power without someone storming out of the meeting. He can talk about his tree or whatever all he wants, I'm not going to pout or leave if he does.
When I got home that evening I was inspired to write about higher powers. When choosing a higher power you must be very careful. Shall I elaborate? Happy to, in fact, I’ll do more than that. I’ll dig in real deep with a good strong shovel and put my back into it. I think I’ll do OK for an old broad.
A tree – Trees are beautiful, I love them, hugged quite a few over the years. Chestnut trees, Maple trees, all kinds of trees back in Michigan. Too many trees to list in Yosemite, Big Sur and right here in Tahoe. Trees make me smile, sometimes even laugh. The way they can grow, look like other things, and entangle themselves with other life growing close by. The downside. They can be cut down, a storm can take them out, lightning can strike them, they can burn up, be chopped, sliced, mulched … need I go on? I love trees. As a higher power though? I don’t think so. A gift from God which I will always feel Blessed with? Oh Yes.
The wind – Ahh the wind. I love the wind. Sometimes I’ll wake up and hear the wind. My first thoughts are, probably not a good day for kayaking but it might be a great day for flying a kite. When I listen to the wind howl, see the white caps on the lake or my kite shimmy and shake, once again, I feel Blessed. As a higher power though? The wind quickly changes direction, it stops just as suddenly as it blows in. The wind, I think, is another Blessing from God. I don’t believe in weather gods, friend of mine in IL does and he’s a priest. Go figure. As a higher power? If you’re out on a lake, in a sailboat, and the wind stops blowing, then your motor doesn’t work, you’ve no paddles, can’t get one bar on your cell … let’s move on.
A bonfire – oh yeah. I love bonfires; I mean love L U V. I get lost in them. Watching the flames dance, the coals glow, listening to the sounds they make, and feeling the warmth on a cold winter night. Love them. A higher power though? I can put this one out with one word. Water. Bonfires and alcohol, oh dear, I could tell a couple of stories here. They can do some damage, and I Thank God for Neosporin or I could show you some scars. Facial ones. I still love them. Another Blessing to me, a gift from God. A simple pleasure to enjoy. Next up.
A door knob – A good invention and a handy thing to have on a door. My preference however is swinging doors. I’ve always wanted some between the kitchen and living room. They’re fun, can’t be slammed, and you can go through them carrying lots of stuff. No knob to turn. Back to the door knob. It’s just too easy. Use your imagination. But wait, ever see the SpongeBob Squarepants episode where Patrick and SpongeBob order the really big TV because they want the box they know it’s going to be shipped in? Another one for the books. A door knob, imagine that. This has to be one of the worst choices as far as higher powers go. However, that is simply my humble opinion.
Now I think is a good time to talk about my Higher Power. God. My Heavenly Father can not be manipulated by anyone or anything. He is in complete control of everything. I can give all of my heavy burdens to Him and He takes them from me. He loves me no matter what. When I sin, I pray, I confess my sins, ask to be forgiven, and I am forgiven. When I feel weak, I pray and He gives me strength. When my heart aches, I pray, I cry out to my Lord for comfort, and usually, within moments I am crying tears of joy. When I feel I just can’t go on, I’m just too tired; He picks me up and carries me. He never gives me more than I can handle.
I used a lot of I and me words in that paragraph. God is there for everyone. Anyone who reaches out to Him. All you need to do is open your heart. Let Him in. You will be so very glad you did. Honest. I would not lie to you. I am not that type of person. I’m just a plain simple girl, living in this world. It can be a scary place to some these days. This may surprise you but I am not afraid. The news does not terrify me. I quit watching it. The newspaper articles do not break my heart anymore. I rarely read them. Now you may be thinking, oh I get it; you’ve buried your head in the sand. Not at all. I just don’t buy the propaganda anymore. Be afraid be very afraid people. Look what’s happened now. But don’t worry, we got your back. Sorry to tell you though, we have to take away some more of your freedom. We’ll need to tweak this and that which was written long ago.
It’s all gravy, Baby. Our government can do whatever they want to. As long as I have God in my life … it’s all good. It really is.
Have you thought about making some changes in your life? Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? Do you ever feel like you just can’t go on anymore? Without Hope … I did, many times over the years. I thought long and hard about killing myself a few times. Came pretty close to following through a couple of those times. Want to know what happened? I prayed, God listened and saved me from myself. This last time that happened, I promised God I would never turn my back on Him again. I got baptized through my church and gave my life to Him. I am just a humble servant now. I’ve never been so happy.
