Hanging On Days
There are some days in the program that just plain suck. They are uncomfortable, we are uncomfortable, nothing seems to work, we project and obsess and generally drive ourselves nuts. Our best thinking got us to this point and yet we do not know what to do. All of that stuff that we have heard about the prgram and how it works seems a million miles away, is not relevant to me, my sponsors telephone number is not handy, my car is not working and can't get to a meeting and God is not part of the thought process. These are what I call “hanging on” days. We have broken contact with our Higher Power and we feel right about nothing. Despite the fact that God loves us always we have lost contact. EGO is back and we have edged god out(EGO).

We have to believe that it will get better if we do the right things and get out of our own way. These right things are prayer, meditation, the serenity prayer, the telephone. Keep in touch with other alcoholics and do not isolate. Talk about how you are feeling. Work the steps. Call your sponsor. Then just hang on. Time will take care of most of our greatest fears but that will happen in his time not in ours. So be prepared to just “hang on” If I do this it seems to improve my hold on sobriety and makes me realize that this is something we all go through and that I am not unique.

Two three pearls recues recently:

Customer I am registering me on your site, but I do not include/understand all...
Hotline Of agreement, one will see that together.
Customer One asks me to seize coordinate them place from where I call, a telephone number... I put what?
Hotline You put the telephone number of the place from where you connect yourselves... Of on your premise what...
Customer Of agreement... Veiled... Then, one asks me for a city...
Hotline You put coordinate them place from where you call.
Customer Thus, I put my city...
Hotline Yes...
Customer failed... And now me for a postal code is asked.
Hotline..
Customer Hello? I put what?
Hotline (aggravated) Your postal code!
Customer (sincerely sorry) Excusez me if I annoy you, but I do not know large-thing with data processing, you know...

if not to be upset with him, it is true that I had evil also with data processing...

An other.?

To go:

Hotline Sir, made [ CONTROL ] [ ALT ] [ SUPPR ].
Ah customer yes, I know that (one hears in bottom click click click click.....)
Does Hotline What occur has the screen Mister?
Ben customer nothing
Hotline Start again [ CONTROL ] [ ALT ] [ SUPPR ]
Customer click click click click...
Hotline And now
Customer Always nothing...
Hotline Comment do you make handling?
Client Ben I press on the keys "C", "O", "N", "T", "R", "O", "L" and afterwards on "A", "L", "T" then on "S", "U", "P", "P" and finally "R".
Hotline (silence...)
Perhaps is customer Y necessary the accent on CONTROL, not?

It was nice, hein...?

You oâ, I nevertheless found a few minutes for me OQP of you expensive reader. Oh certainly not as you would have wished, but it is better than anything, he...?

also, for your information, am happy in my new job... Always also little time, but happy nevertheless... I wish you full with happiness......

Biz with you...

Why Italy is great...
"The pizza has to be round. It mustn’t be more than 13 3/4 inches in diameter. The crust has to be 3/4 of an inch at the most, and the center has to be less than a tenth of an inch high!"

I have a great amount of respect for any country that takes food so seriously. I need to go there if I ever have the money or the time off. And the best part-- they don't have pepperoni there! It simply does not exist! Fabulous.

This is by far the best thing to come out of Italy since Mom-mom's spaghetti with crab sauce. Side note-- Dan, does anyone have the recipe for that, or am I going to have to be bold and ask her myself? It's probably not even written down.

Two hundred and twenty six years ago, brave and selfless men risked their lives and fortunes to fight a revolution that signaled the end of one the greatest empires of the last millenia. Soon poor and rich men came together to fight the common enemy of tyranny. It began with these words:"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."So began the American Revolution. Unlike nearly every other revolution or civil war, it was not a single and isolated insurgency. It's repercussions are still heard today. Truly alone among nations, the United States it still the freest place on Earth, indeed the freest nation ever. She is the model and final arbiter of democracy. She has inspired imitators and enemies alike, and every one of them has failed, either to reproduce her unalienable right or destory her freedom. Today we face enemies from all sides, like never before. Where our friends once were, now stand adversaries who wish to remove our sovereignty, curb our power, and subsume our freedom. Where there were once weak and corrupt regimes now stand dangerous despots and their murderous agents working single-mindedly on our annihilation. And even so, where our enemy once stood, now stands a possible ally and hopeful brother-in-democracy. We must again prove our mettle, we must honor the memory of our founders, we must stand fast against the enemies of freedom, democracy, and God. Can we do it? Will we stay true to the path? Will we triumph?"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

HEARING GOD'S QUESTIONSBeen exploring hearing God's voice after another recent trip through Dallas Willard's book on the subject. Have you ever noticed how often someone would ask Jesus a question and He would respond with another question?Try this sometime (this is interesting): instead of asking God questions and listening for answers, ask for questions. I have had more success hearing questions than answers when devloping my conversational relationship with God.What kind of questions should you expect? The best ones I have received thus far are personal, so I cannot really give an exact example. The questions are not harsh or judgmental, sort of inquiring as to how I am living life. A few times they are like the questions asked at baptism (in my tradition) "Do you renounce Satan and all his pomps and empty promises?" "Do you realize that you will live forever...isn't that amazing?" Cool questions when they come from the Lord.The fruit has been a fresh method of examining my conscience. More comments to follow as I try it some more.