Remember the three frogs floating on a piece of wood down the river? One made a decision to jump into the water. How many frogs were left on the piece of wood? Three, of course. The frog just made a decision to jump into the water – he didn’t carry it through.
Recovery demands action. We can't think ourselves better.
And that action involves: 1) Self examination, 2) Acknowledgment of faults, 3) Restitutions of wrongs done, and above all, 4) Constant work with others - we have to become "givers" instead of "takers" – we need to practice the kind of giving that has ‘no price tag on it’, the giving of ourselves to somebody’.
But there's more: - it's suggested that alcoholics & addicts need ‘to pray to whatever God they think there is for a power to carry out these simple precepts’ and that if they do not believe there is a God, they should start ‘the experiment of praying to whatever God there might be.’
That’s what I did, incidentally – I took a gamble on God – and it worked.
And the rewards? I got to feel "a million dollars"; my self-worth was enhanced; and I was brought out of myself.
******************
Yesterday, I spoke at the Pembrokeshire Baptists' Assembly in Eglwyswrw; and later at a meeting of the Cytun group at Clydach. I'd like to thank both congregations for listening to me and for their enthusiastic response. Diolch yn fawr.
Showing posts with label addicts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label addicts. Show all posts
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Saturday, 6 June 2009
The big stones and the little stones.....
A college lecturer filled a large glass tube with big stones, right up to the top. “Is it full now?” he asked the students.
“Yes” came the reply in unison.
“No it isn’t” he said. “Look.” And he poured little stones into the tube, in between the big stones – right up to the top. “Is it full now?” he asked.
“Yes” said the students again.
“No” said the lecturer. “Look again.” And he poured gravel into the tube, between the little stones and the big stones, right up to the top. “Is it full now?”
“Probably not” they said.
Students like alcoholics (or addicts) are unusually slow to learn!
“You’re right to say ‘probably not’” said the lecturer, “Look” and he poured fine sand into the tube – between the gravel, the small stones and the big stones, right up to the top. “Is it full now?”
Rather gingerly, the students said “no” again.
“You’re right” said the lecturer as he poured a gallon of water into the tube – right up to the top. “Is it full now?”
“It is” they all concluded confidently.
“Spot on” said the lecturer. “It is full. So what does that prove?”
Blank faces all ‘round.
“Well, what it proves is this” he said. “When we put the big stones first – when we put the important things in our lives first we have room for all the rest – the smaller stones, the gravel, the fine sand and water, etc.
However, if I’d poured the water in first, or the fine sand……. Do you see what I’m telling you?”
They all nodded intelligently.
Likewise, as recovering alcoholics (or addicts), we have to put sobriety first in our lives too – when we do that, we also have room for all the other less important things – family, job, career, forming relationships, sorting out finances, etc.
Putting sobriety first in our lives, I put it to you, is the first and last step in recovery.
Another way of looking at it is this: "We have to be prepared to loose everything to protect our sobriety".
Think about that. "We have to be prepared to loose everything to protect our sobriety."
Awesome, isn't it?
“Yes” came the reply in unison.
“No it isn’t” he said. “Look.” And he poured little stones into the tube, in between the big stones – right up to the top. “Is it full now?” he asked.
“Yes” said the students again.
“No” said the lecturer. “Look again.” And he poured gravel into the tube, between the little stones and the big stones, right up to the top. “Is it full now?”
“Probably not” they said.
Students like alcoholics (or addicts) are unusually slow to learn!
“You’re right to say ‘probably not’” said the lecturer, “Look” and he poured fine sand into the tube – between the gravel, the small stones and the big stones, right up to the top. “Is it full now?”
Rather gingerly, the students said “no” again.
“You’re right” said the lecturer as he poured a gallon of water into the tube – right up to the top. “Is it full now?”
“It is” they all concluded confidently.
“Spot on” said the lecturer. “It is full. So what does that prove?”
Blank faces all ‘round.
“Well, what it proves is this” he said. “When we put the big stones first – when we put the important things in our lives first we have room for all the rest – the smaller stones, the gravel, the fine sand and water, etc.
However, if I’d poured the water in first, or the fine sand……. Do you see what I’m telling you?”
They all nodded intelligently.
Likewise, as recovering alcoholics (or addicts), we have to put sobriety first in our lives too – when we do that, we also have room for all the other less important things – family, job, career, forming relationships, sorting out finances, etc.
Putting sobriety first in our lives, I put it to you, is the first and last step in recovery.
Another way of looking at it is this: "We have to be prepared to loose everything to protect our sobriety".
Think about that. "We have to be prepared to loose everything to protect our sobriety."
Awesome, isn't it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
