We are but trusted servants....

We do not govern. A lot of great old timers have told me, over the years, the longer you are around, the smaller you should get. I am starting to figure that out. My BEHAVIOR is the thing that is most obvious and most able to direct someone. My mouth only creates dissension and sometimes I say things that I can't shove back in my mouth. When I hear someone make a lambasting comment at a meeting, I need to focus on what he didn't get his way with, instead of wanting to tell him off. We are a troubled lot, even with the alcohol and drugs behind us. Love and tolerance, that's what my friend Father Martin always told me to strive for. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.

, as we understood Him,

Great! I got a lot of comments on that post, and I loved them all. A dear friend of mine, Father Joseph Martin, died last month. He would always tell me things that guide me along this way of life. One time he told me, "When God delivers some goodness to your life, expect to get bombarded by Satan". It never fails. Boy, that man will always be one of my HERO'S. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.

What normal people do....

When a normal person is going along and gets lost, he will stop and get some directions, and get back on course. Us drunks handle it a little different. When we get lost, we SPEED UP. It fits the saying, I may be lost, but I'm making excellent time. So much for all the time we spend on figuring things out. We keep going ahead, and sometimes damn fast! Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.

, as we understood Him.

When I first got sober, I had no working relationship with any God. I asked my Sponsor, " what do I do now?" He told me, " we are going to do what the steps say to do". I told him that Bill stated that Ebby told him to make up a god that you understand to get started. My sponsor told me that remember that Ebby was never a member of AA. So we will go beyond that and work the steps. I said OK, what now. He stated that the step says, "God, as we understood Him, not as I understood Him, not as the speaker understood Him, not as a Priest understood Him", and on and on. So, he asked me to go out and find out what WE UNDERSTAND. I got a note book and started asking people. I would write down what each person understood. After a few weeks, we sat down and went over my notes. He then asked me, "Is there any common thread to all the information you have gathered?" There was! The bottom line was everyone had a higher power who was loving, trustworthy, kind, gentle, forgiving, non judgemental, and available. He asked if I can grab a hold of that and find this power? It was simple. When I was growing up, my mom keep bringing to me the Jesus stuff. Singing to me at night, and praying with me all the time, and that was a good time, and I felt attached to what she was holding me with. So, I just had to go back to the way it was. It was that simple for me. Well that's what worked for me. What worked for you? Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.

Am I grateful.....

I'm an Alcoholic? Not always! I can remember onetime, when my wife asked me to fix the toaster. I took it in the garage and took it apart. It got messed up and I couldn't get it back together right. I thought of just buying a new one, and telling her I fixed it and cleaned it up. All better now! But, because I am sober now, I had to tell her I tried to fix and couldn't, so I bought her a new one. Was I grateful I couldn't lie? Not at that moment. I had to tell her the truth. That's just one example. There are many more. And that is a simple example, a lot are more complicated. I'll bet you got some too. Tell me yours. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.

I listen with my eyes.......

and have found that to be an easier way to understand people around me. All my life I would hear what you said, and take you at your word. Others would do that with me, and they found out, when I was a kid, you can't do that with me. When I got sober and ended up doing what I do for a living, I started to realize that we can say anything! How often do we see people telling us how happy they are with a frown on their face. It just doesn't work. If someone tells me they are working the steps, I should be able to see it as well as hear it. It has become refreshing to be able to tell you, "I'm not doing so good today", when in fact I'm not. It's much easier to work through difficult times if I go through it, not try to go around it. So when you see me and talk to me, remember I'm also listening with my eyes. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.

It's not just a coin.....

My first Sponsor gave me a 24 hour a day coin, and told me to keep it in my pocket. He told me to bring it back to him If I was thinking about drinking. Not after I took that drink. My first year I was at his house a number of times, telling him "here's your f*&!@ coin! He would say come on in, we need to talk. After some time, he would give me my coin back and off I would go, STILL SOBER. In the beginning, Sister Ignatia would give the guys leaving Rosary Hall a Patron Saint coin, with the same directions, Give it back before you drink. I get a new coin from my Sponsor each year on my Anniversary and it stays in my pocket. I have left for work in the morning and forgot my coin. I would drive back home and get it, sort of a security blanket. But, IT WORKS!! My co-Sponsor lives in Las Vegas, and I have a coin from him in my pocket. A couple of times a year, I get this urge to drink, so I go to Las Vegas to give him the coin. Just kiddin about that one. That coin is a simple solution, and those things work for me for the past 24 years. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.

You won't follow directions!!

That was told to me all my life by family, friends, bosses, and on and on. I would always do things my way. Frank Sinatra, huh. I ended up crawling into AA with the old tail between my legs. When I was first sober, my Sponsor would send me out the back door of the local AA Club, and told me to go the right and mail this letter. He would tell me later, "If someone asked him where I went, he would tell them, he went out the back door and went to the left". He was sure of that. It took some time. But, I eventually got it. If I just follow directions, things went way better. And I like a way better life. Keeping it simple to me, is FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.

I'm allergic to beans.....

Think about this one. If my Doctor told me, "you're allergic to beans, so don't eat any or you might die!" Do you think I should just eat one, hide them around the house so nobody will know, try switching from lima beans to kidney beans, drive to a store out of town so nobody will see me buying beans, leave work early and stop at the corner greasy spoon and sneak an order of beans, and on and on. But it seems rather normal to look at all the outrageous things we do, so we can keep drinking alcohol. I know, sometimes my mind gets a little out of sinc with the rest of the world. Oh well, that's me. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.