You cannot devalue the body and value the soul - or value anything else. The isolation of the body sets it into direct conflict with everything else in creation. —Wendell Berry
Our bodies are part of creation as much as trees, lakes, mountains, flowers, and animals. Part of our growth into full manhood is treating ourselves respectfully. It is a spiritual practice to be fully accepting, active, and alive physically.
We can no longer be content to be only spectator sportsmen in front of the televisIon set. We need to get our own muscles moving. What we take in as food expresses the level of respect we feel for ourselves. Our sexual expressions reflect the value we feel for our own bodies and our partners'. Our spiritual feelings become part of all the basic details of our lives.
Today, my spiritual experience includes all the ways I care for and accept my body.
From Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men©
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Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Keep It Simple
Mishaps are like knives that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle. ---Herman Melville
We have hung on in hard times. We made it through our addiction. Some of us have lived through abuse. We’ve felt like our hearts were broken. But we’ve proven we are survivors. Now we’re learning that we can heal.
Being recovery doesn’t mean things will be easy. But we have a Higher Power to help us. We have friends who listen to us, care for us, and help us through the pain. Because of our recovery program, we’re able to keep hope and love in our lives---One Day at a Time.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me through the hard times. Help me trust in Your love and care.
Action for the Day: Today, I’ll plan ahead with my sponsor. What will I do now so that I’ll have strong support when hard times come?
Now I see how even my most distasteful past experiences can turn to gold
because, as a sober alcoholic, I can share them to help my fellow alcoholics,
particularly newcomers. . .
I no longer regret the past; I am simply grateful to be conscious of my Higher Power's love
and of the help I can give to others in the Fellowship.
- Daily Reflections, p. 22
Thought to Ponder . . .
Grateful is a feeling. Gratitude is an action.
AA-related 'Alconym' . . .
A A = Always Awesome.
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Daily Motivation
Choosing your consequences
There are some actions that empower and enrich your life. There are other actions that lead only to regret and disappointment.
There are choices that build value far into the future. There are other choices that seriously compromise your future in the interest of a fleeting, momentary pleasure.
Before each action you take, before each choice you make, ask yourself this question. Will it truly and permanently lift up your life and your world, or will it not?
There’s no need to get caught up in labeling things as good or bad or easy or difficult, or even as right or wrong. Look instead at the ultimate consequence of what you choose to do.
The way to do what is good and right is to do what will bring goodness and value. The way to build an empowered and fulfilled life is to make empowering choices.
In every moment, with each thought and action you take, you are choosing your consequences. Take advantage of each opportunity to choose the very best.
— Ralph Marston
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