Mar 22 Tolerance - Transitions Daily Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Readings Podcast

Welcome to the Transitions Daily Podcast. Transitions Daily is an online recovery group that

offers a daily distribution of popular recovery resources accompanied by a secret Facebook

group for discussion. We hope you enjoy today's readings.

This is Transitions Daily for March 22nd, read by Kurt L. from Albuquerque to Mexico, USA.

A.A. Thoughts for the Day. Tolerance. Honesty with ourselves and others gets us sober, but

it is tolerance that keeps us that way. In other words, once an alcoholic fully realizes

that he can't get well alone, he will somehow find a way to get well and stay well in the

company of others. It has been that way from the beginning of A.A. and probably always

will be so, as Bill sees it, page 312. Thought to consider, together we can do what we could

never do alone. Acronyms. Time. Things I must earn. Just for today, nameless from the three

legacies of alcoholics anonymous. Tradition 11 represents more than a sound public relations

policy. It is more than a denial of self-seeking. Tradition 11 is certainly a constant reminder

that personal ambition has no place in A.A. But it also implies that each member ought

to become an active guardian of our fellowship in its relation with the general public. As

we have seen, anonymity is the protective mantle that covers our whole society. But it

is more than protection. It has another dimension, a spiritual significance. And this leads to

tradition 12, which reads, anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions,

ever reminding us to place principles before personalities. In my belief, the entire

future of our fellowship hangs upon this vital principle. If we continue to be filled with

the spirit and practice of anonymity, no show or reef can wreck us. If we forget this

principle, the lid to Pandora's Box will be off and the spirits of money, power and prestige

will be loosed among us. Alcoholics anonymous comes of age, page 131. Daily reflections,

no more struggle. As we have ceased fighting anything or anyone, even alcohol. Alcoholics

anonymous page 84. When A.A. found me, I thought I was in for a struggle, and that A.A. might

provide the strength I needed to beat alcohol. Victorious in that fight, who knows what other

battles I could win. I would need to be strong, though. All my previous experience with life

proved that. Today, I do not have to struggle or exert my will. If I take those 12 steps

and let my higher power do the real work, my alcohol problem disappears all by itself. My

living problems also cease to be struggles. I just have to ask whether acceptance or change

is required. It is not my will, but his that needs doing. As Bill sees it, selfish? I can see

why you are disturbed to hear some A.A. speakers say A.A. is a selfish program. The word selfish

ordinarily implies that one is a positive, demanding and thoughtless of the welfare of others.

Of course, the A.A. way of life does not at all imply such undesirable traits. What do

these speakers mean? Well, any theologian will tell you that the salvation of his own soul is the

highest vocation that a man can have. Without salvation, however, we may define this. He will have

little or nothing. For us of A.A. there is even more urgency. If we cannot or will not achieve

sobriety, then we become truly lost right in the here and now. We are of no value to anyone,

including ourselves, until we find salvation from alcohol. Therefore, our own recovery and

spiritual growth have to come first. A right necessary kind of self-concern.

Big book quote. If we were to live, we had to be free of anger, but grouch in the brainstorm

or not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcoholics, these things are

poison. Alcoholics anonymous how it works, page 66. 24 hours a day. A.A. thought for the day.

We are all looking for the power to overcome drinking. When we alcoholics come into A.A. our first

question is, how do I get the strength to quit? At first, it seems to us that we will never get the

necessary strength. We see older members who have found the power we are looking for, but we don't

know the process by which they got it. This necessary strength comes in many ways. Have I found

all the strength I need? Meditation for the day. You cannot have a spiritual need that God

cannot supply. Your fundamental need is a spiritual need, the need for power to live the good life.

The best spiritual supply is received by you when you want it to pass on to other people.

You get it largely by giving it away. God gives you strength as you pass it on to another person.

That strength means increased health. Increased health means more good work. And more good work

means more people helped. And so it goes on. A constant supply to meet all spiritual needs.

Prayer for the day. I pray that my every spiritual need will be supplied by God. I pray that I

may use the power I receive to help others. Hazleton Foundation PO Box 176 Center City,

Minnesota 55012. My name is Kurt and I'm an alcoholic. We hope you enjoy today's readings.

You can also receive Transitions Daily via email and discuss today's readings in our secret

Facebook group. So for more information, go to dailyaemails.com today. Other than the 24 hours

a day reading, unless otherwise specified. All quotes copyright alcoholics anonymous

World Services Inc. 1952 through 2001.