"A little meditation on the word forgive can throw some rather surprising light on our understanding of the word.
We are asked to forgive those who have injured us. Unless we have first judged and condemned them for what they did, there would be no reason for us to forgive them. Rather we would have to forgive ourselves for judging.
Scripture says: 'Judge not that ye be not judged.' If we do judge-no matter how great the injury or how premeditated-we are at fault. Following this train of thought to its logical conclusion, we see that we can forgive only ourselves. In doing so, we also forgive the person whose action we have resented."
One Day at a Time in Al-Anon, p. 120, April 29.
I love this book. I am not an Al-Anon member, but I used to be. I certainly qualify since nearly everybody I love is an alcoholic. Most of them, thankfully, are sober.
If I had unlimited time, I would attend Al-Anon meetings. But as it is, I don't have much spare time, so when I have time for a meeting, it better be an AA meeting. I am very clear on the fact that I have a daily reprieve from a deadly killer. Contingent on the maintenance of my spiritual condition. Part of that maintenance is going to meetings and being part of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.
What a wonderful way of life it is. It is not a walk in the park every single day, but it is a wonderful way of living. No matter what happens, I know that I can get through it, usually with some grace, a smile, some humor, and some joy.
My house is drying out. The most soaked part of the carpet downstairs is now dry. I have the industrial strength fan in the bedroom now. It still smells funky. I hope it will be warm enough today to have the windows open and get air flowing through the house and get the funk out.
6 comments:
Hateful, hateful concept. Going to Al-Anon meeitngs. LOL
My sponsor pushes me to go. He wants me to do 90/90. I have been to 3 so far, in a little over a year. I can see the necessity, but I do so many AA meetings, I can't see my way into the Al-Anon rooms -- yet.
I guess it will happen when I'm ready enough.
Thanks for the post - I suppose.
That's a wonderful reading, a gem not easy to understand at first. Thanks a lot for sharing that.
My wife is at an Al-Anon workshop as I write this, expecting me for lunch. I am not going to make it. Too busy with blogs.......
I will go later for the AA speaker.
Yup, that's what I will do.
Anyways, I haven't been on your Blog for a few days. My garage door broke a couple of weeks ago, and my sprinkler system needed repair, I think I will check my hot water heater before I go out in case we live in parallel universes.
BTW the 6:45 am meeting is on South Broadway about 1/2 mile south of C-470 at the first Church on the west side. 8817 South Broadway, Highlands Ranch. Ride your bike around C-470 some early morning and stop in.
Oh, and I do like the part about forgive.
Mike
"What a wonderful way of life it is. It is not a walk in the park every single day, but it is a wonderful way of living. No matter what happens, I know that I can get through it, usually with some grace, a smile, some humor, and some joy."
You are one beautiful person!
I see you,
JJ
The blog world is a great source of info. There are some free subliminal tools for fear and promoting forgiveness at www.innertalk.com/ They work for me.
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