Daily Reflections – November 23

“HOLD YOUR FACE TO THE LIGHT”

Believe more deeply. Hold your face up to the Light, even though for the moment you do not see.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 3

One Sunday in October, during my morning meditation, I glanced out the window at the ash tree in our front yard. At once I was overwhelmed by its magnificent, golden color! As I stared in awe at God’s work of art, the leaves began to fall and, within minutes, the branches were bare. Sadness came over me as I thought of the winter months ahead, but just as I was reflecting on autumn’s annual process, God’s message came through. Like the trees, stripped of their leaves in the fall, sprout new blossoms in the spring, I had had my compulsive, selfish ways removed by God in order for me to blossom into a sober, joyful member of A.A. Thank you, God, for the changing seasons and for my ever-changing life.

I loved this Daily Reflection because it reminded me of transformation.  I love that word. I love it so much I rebranded my company during COVID to “TRANSFORM.” There are several places in our book that the idea of transformation is mentioned…

Excerpts From the book Alcoholics Anonymous

“We, who have recovered from serious drinking, are miracles of mental health. But we have seen remarkable transformations in our ­bodies.” — The Family Afterward

“Though you are providing him with the best possible medical attention, he should understand that he must undergo a change of heart. To get over drinking will require a transformation of thought and attitude.” — To Employers

“My physical being has certainly undergone a transformation, but the major transformation has been spiritual. The hopelessness has been replaced by abundant hope and sincere faith.” — Twice Gifted

“Among our rapidly growing membership of thousands of alcoholics such transformations, though frequent, are by no means the rule.” — Appendices II, Spiritual Experience

I was taught early on that “the same man will drink again.”  If I’m not willing to allow this kind of transformation to occur in me, there’s little hope of me getting the life I always dreamed of.  That old saying is so true, “If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.”  That speaks volumes to me that doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is nothing short of insanity.  I need to be open to change – to transformation, and the only way I will be able to overcome my real problem (which is my mental states [my thinking] – as it says on the top of page 35 4th Edition in More About Alcoholism), is to develop a relationship with a Power greater than myself.

May you allow that transformation to occur in you today.  May you get this glorious gift that is so readily available to us.  May you transform into the person that God intended for you to be… thy will, not mine be done.

In love & service,