Humility in a World of Ego

Humility is my spirituality.  I am a spiritual being having a human experience and earth is my harbor.

Thoughts of others...

I just love life. I mean, you know, I love every second of it. I love people.- Richard Branson Quote

For me, the spiritual quest will be a life-long work in progress. - Dan Brown Quote

Immature love says: "I love you because I need you." Mature love says: "I need you because I love you." - Mahatma Gandhi Quote

Feeling unworthy is like putting a huge obstacle into the God force, into the life force which is everywhere. - Dr. Wayne Dyer Quote

If you are a Christian, you are free to think that all these religions, even the queerest ones, contain at least some hint of the truth. -
C.S.Lewis Quote

Humor is in fact an essential element in the mirth of creation. We can see how, in many matters in our lives, God wants to prod us into taking things a bit more lightly. - Pope Benedict XVI Quote

But to me the notion that spirituality is separate from the rest of life does not allow for a practical approach to living a life that has extraordinary quality. - Tony Robbins Quote

So, that is my final lesson from the universe--you just do what you need to do, and stay on track. - Oprah Winfrey Quote

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion - 14th Dalai Lama Quote

Run for GUA Africa 2011 - Run for Afirca

Brazil

No Growth Happens on Top of the Mountain

Achieving Goals

Heaven on Earth

Nothing is Insurmountable

I read this in the Daily Om some time ago and saved it for strength.  I have used it many times.  I am humbled by my reliance on God and others for strength and for that, I am strong:

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Nothing Is Insurmountable

When our next best course of action seems unclear, any dilemmas we face can appear insurmountable. Yet there is nothing we cannot overcome with time, persistence, focused thought, help, and faith. Whatever the situation or problem, there is always a solution. And if you remember to look within, even as you search around you for the “right” course of action, you will be able to center yourself, clear your mind, and see that nothing has to be impossible.

The first step in overcoming any obstacle is to believe that it can be overcome. Doing so will give you the strength and courage to move through any crisis. The second step is to make a resolution that you can prevail over any chaos. Enlist your support network of family and friends if necessary. The more minds there are to consider a problem, the more solutions can be found. Don’t discount ideas just because they seem impractical or “unrealistic,” and don’t keep searching for the “best” alternative. Often there is no “best” choice, there is only a choice to make so we can begin moving beyond whatever is obstructing our path. At the very least, making a choice, even if isn’t the ideal one, can give you a sense of peace before you have to figure out what your next course of action will be.

If you feel overwhelmed by the scope of your troubles, you may want to think of other people who have turned adversity into triumph. We often gain a fresh perspective when we remember others who have overcome larger obstacles. It can be inspiring to hear of their victories, helping us remember that there is always light at the end of every tunnel. It is during our darkest hours that we sometimes need to remind ourselves that we don’t have to feel helpless. You have within and around you the resources to find a solution to any problem. And remember that if a solution or choice you make doesn’t work, you are always free to try another. Believe that you can get through anything, and you will always prevail

Don't Ever Give Up

This cartoon was given to me by a friend in South Africa and I love it because I believe that anything can happen at the last minute and we should never, never ever give up.

God does provide...

"I wish I could keep in that God can provide, God will provide, and God does provide. - Marie Gubbels

Alcoholics and addicts, even religious ones, often find relying on God to deal with our problems far too simple and far too difficult.  Most alcoholics and addicts have been in a search for safety and security in a substance for a solution to an emptiness and ache that never seemed to leave us.  We did not realize that God was waiting for us to simply pray for HELP.  We often forgot to simply say a prayer.  Even knowing it, as we do now, has not prevented us form looking for help elsewhere, time and time again.  It has never been out nature to keep our lives simple.  "Easy does it" just never made sense.  However, we are getting more practice at a simple life in recovery.

We may still need to choose, daily, to believe that God can, will and does provide for our every need.  Because most of us have not had a life-changing spiritual experience, we must decide every day to look to God.  Fortunately, a moment of quiet and a tiny prayer is all that we need to do.  God is never more than a thought or a wish away.

TODAY, I will practice relying on God at every moment and I believe that I will receive guidance and knowledge concerning how to proceed next.

Independence Day for South Sudan

The Serenity Prayer

THE SERENITY PRAYER

The Serenity Prayer is one of the most simple and profound prayers that I say and often I say it even when I am already serene or without stress. 

GOD                         

With the saying of this word, we are admitting the existence of higher power.

GRANT                   

With the repeating of this second word, we are admitting that this higher power is an energy or authority that can BESTOW or GIVE.

ME                                         

We are asking something for ourselves, for the Bible says “Ask and it shall be given.”  It is not wrong

to ask for betterment of yourself, for with the improvement of your character people around you will

be made better and happier.

THE SERENITY

We are asking for CALMNESS, COMPSOURE and PEACE in our lives, which will enable us to

think straight and govern ourselves accordingly.

TO ACCEPT 

We are acknowledging ourselves to conditions as they are right now.

THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE 

We are accepting our lot as it is.  Until we have the courage to change any part of our lives we don’t like, we must accept it and NOT ACCEPT IT GRUDGINGLY, BUT REALISTICALLY.

THE COURAGE                                       
We are asking for a quality of spirit to face our difficulties or challenges without flinching. We ask to act boldly despite the fear.

TO CHANGE                        

We are asking for things to be different.

THE THINGS I CAN                        

We are asking for help to make a right decision. If you have to make a decision, consider carefully the worst that could happen to you IF YOUR DECISION TO CHANGE DID NOT WORK OUT.  If you can accept the worst and your decision will get you out of a rut, then proceed.

AND THE WISDOM     

We are asking for the ability to form sound judgments in any matter.

TO KNOW                           

We want to understand clearly a truth or fact.

THE DIFFERENCE               

We want to see things differently in our lives so there can be some distinction.  We need to sense a

.definite value in sobriety over drunkenness if we are to stay sober.

Freedom and Justice - Praying for Mercy

Yesterday, the United States celebrated 235 years since its Declaration of Independence.  I ran the Watermelon Run in Winter Park, Florida.  It is the third year that I ran this race and it starts my Run for GUA Africa fund raising runs for Emma Academy.  Meanwhile, Casey Anthony, a 25 year old Orlando woman was sitting in the Orange County Courthouse as closing arguments on her 7 count charge of murder, manslaughter, child abuse and lying to the police.  The closing arguments looked quite dire for her and she faced the death penalty.  Today she was acquitted from the most severe charges and only held guilty for lying to the police. 

Much of Orlando and the country is outraged.  They need a villan and closure.  I have experienced accusations of all kinds; some deserved, some not.  But I know that all of us in the grips of addiction have made grave errors of judgment and lapses of morality.  In some cases, we were

Today, I know right from wrong and cannot hide behind my disease.  While I am still capable of moral mistakes and poor jdugment, I am aware of what my conscience and my gut tells me.  I never will take my freedom for granted.

Courage - Facing fear and being free!

I receive many daily affirmations from various sources, some recovery based, some religious and others are new age.  I believe in multiple sources of inspiration and insight.  Here is one from Jonathan Lockwood Huie -jlh @ sail7 .com
Daily Inspiration - Daily Quote

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. - Nelson Mandela The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. - Joseph Campbell Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared. - Eddie Rickenbacker Live Your Greatest Life

July - The month of Humility

Every month I focus on a concept - January = Honesty; February = Hope; March = Faith; April = Courage; May = Integrity; June = Willingness; July = Humility; August = Forgiveness; September = Justice or Mercy; October = Preseverance; November = Spirituality; and December = Love, Service & Gratitude.

My favorite definition of humility is that written on a plaque on the desk of Dr. Bob Smith:

Humility
Humility is perpetual quietness of heart.
It is to have no trouble.
It is never vexed, irritable or sore: to wonder at nothing that is done to me.
It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or  despised, it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door... and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about is seeming trouble.

July - One Can Start the Year over Any Time They Want

The Year 2011 is half over and I am quite pleased by the first half.  It has been very difficult.  I lost my job with a law firm because of this blog.  But it has given me the impetus to doggedly and vigorously pursue my dreams.  I have taken the exam for Florida Certification as a Certified Addiction Specialist.  I took the Stonebridge University program as a Substance Abuse Counselor and passed with distinction which is the highest grade that I could receive.  This was nice given my sense of failure in other areas of my life.  As this year is half over, I am resolved to write more often and more substantively on this blog. 

Ironically, I have witnessed the consequences of three people who are very close to me relapsing - two are in the hospital and one went from homelessness to having a great job, a nice home and new car and put it all in jeopardy in an incredibly self-destructive relapse.  I don't know how to help them.  I only know what I need to do today.

I believe that what a woman in St. Petersburg, Florida told me once.   If you do these 5 things to stay sober, you will not relapse:

1.     Say a prayer in the morning asking God for help - HELP = His Ever Loving Presence.
2.     Talk to another alcoholic or addict and share your experience, strength and hope.
3.     Go to a meeting, help someone, or share in a fellowship.
4.     Read some recovery literature.
5.     Say a prayer at night thanking God for His HELP.

It works; it really does.