Good Morning Bob, At least here in the west. I'm curious, and if you don't want to answer then don't. But what brings you to this site? I don't recall you ever sharing if a loved one or your own personal struggles brings you here. You seem to know everyhting there is to know about 12 steps.
Last night I couldn't sleep...had some bad w/d while trying. After getting up for awhile, I was able to get a few hours, so prayers answered again. Thank you for your prayers to the Mother and God. Again, it's not my business, I know. But was wondering. Thanks for yesterday! Beck
hey, beck, hang in there. lit a votive candle for you and a couple of others after Mass this morning.
no problemo with the queston you asked. tom asked the same thing the other day. gotta run, don't have much time this a.m., so he's my response to tom --
hey, tom. i spend time over on the Partners/Families of Addicts board, but browse around here from time to time. my 25 year old son is a addict/alcoholic in recovery, currently living in a halfway house after detoxing before christmas. i'm a blazing co-dependent, in recovery. and a bunch of my family, some now deceased, are or were alcoholic and addicts. and so, with the genes i carry and the environment i was raised in, but for the grace of god go i -- and i know it and am grateful, every day. father was an alcoholic. my kid brother is a heroin addict since he was a teenager -- we shared a room growing up. latest addict in my life is one of my close staffers of 20 years -- started nodding off at her desk in the middle of the day and falling asleep at the wheel of her car on the way home and bumping into things -- turns out she was addicted to pills, and is now in recovery, doing quite nicely.
other than my early teens, when i considered myself an agnostic (at best) and an atheist (at worst) i've always sort of been drawn to philosophy, spiritual things, theology, faith and worship, etc. lost the faith and returned to it about 18 years ago, when a lot of things that i was doing on my own power just flat tired me out and exhausted me -- my faith tradition, which i am quite commited to is Roman Catholic -- 2,000 years of tradition and the study of God there and how he works. very rich traditions, pointing towards God, i find. over the centuries, there's been valiant and pretty successful attempts to hold to the practices and faith of the early christians, while constantly making progress in figuring out ways to "reason" their way to God.
i'm in one of the professions -- trained to reason, think, defend positions and assert propositions, if you know what i mean.
anyway, hope i haven't over-answered your question.
thanks for asking. i have found that there is no better compliment or honor that we can pay one another as human beings than to ask the question,
"who are you?"
you have a great sense of humor. many times, you can draw an easy smile.
peace to you.
p.s. -- just so some don't start worrying about my eternal soul as a catholic -- jesus christ is my lord and savior, i have accepted him as my personal savior, and i believe the scriptures are the word of God. but, i also have been baptised, believe in the sacraments, believe in the teaching authority of the church in matters of faith and morals, go to sacramental confession and confess my sins to a priest and receive foregiveness there by a priest who has the power to absolve me of my sins, and i believe that the communion that we share at mass is the body and blood, soul and divinity of jesus christ of nazareth, born of Mary and fathered by the holy spirit -- that at the last supper, during passover, he left us his body and blood as spiritual food to sustain us on our journey.
i can't say the 12 Steps saved my life, like some can say, hundreds of thousands can say that, but they did save my sanity.
no problemo with the queston you asked. tom asked the same thing the other day. gotta run, don't have much time this a.m., so he's my response to tom --
hey, tom. i spend time over on the Partners/Families of Addicts board, but browse around here from time to time. my 25 year old son is a addict/alcoholic in recovery, currently living in a halfway house after detoxing before christmas. i'm a blazing co-dependent, in recovery. and a bunch of my family, some now deceased, are or were alcoholic and addicts. and so, with the genes i carry and the environment i was raised in, but for the grace of god go i -- and i know it and am grateful, every day. father was an alcoholic. my kid brother is a heroin addict since he was a teenager -- we shared a room growing up. latest addict in my life is one of my close staffers of 20 years -- started nodding off at her desk in the middle of the day and falling asleep at the wheel of her car on the way home and bumping into things -- turns out she was addicted to pills, and is now in recovery, doing quite nicely.
other than my early teens, when i considered myself an agnostic (at best) and an atheist (at worst) i've always sort of been drawn to philosophy, spiritual things, theology, faith and worship, etc. lost the faith and returned to it about 18 years ago, when a lot of things that i was doing on my own power just flat tired me out and exhausted me -- my faith tradition, which i am quite commited to is Roman Catholic -- 2,000 years of tradition and the study of God there and how he works. very rich traditions, pointing towards God, i find. over the centuries, there's been valiant and pretty successful attempts to hold to the practices and faith of the early christians, while constantly making progress in figuring out ways to "reason" their way to God.
i'm in one of the professions -- trained to reason, think, defend positions and assert propositions, if you know what i mean.
anyway, hope i haven't over-answered your question.
thanks for asking. i have found that there is no better compliment or honor that we can pay one another as human beings than to ask the question,
"who are you?"
you have a great sense of humor. many times, you can draw an easy smile.
peace to you.
p.s. -- just so some don't start worrying about my eternal soul as a catholic -- jesus christ is my lord and savior, i have accepted him as my personal savior, and i believe the scriptures are the word of God. but, i also have been baptised, believe in the sacraments, believe in the teaching authority of the church in matters of faith and morals, go to sacramental confession and confess my sins to a priest and receive foregiveness there by a priest who has the power to absolve me of my sins, and i believe that the communion that we share at mass is the body and blood, soul and divinity of jesus christ of nazareth, born of Mary and fathered by the holy spirit -- that at the last supper, during passover, he left us his body and blood as spiritual food to sustain us on our journey.
i can't say the 12 Steps saved my life, like some can say, hundreds of thousands can say that, but they did save my sanity.
Thanks for sharing Bob. I have 2 son's...I'm so sorry for what must have been torture to witness. God is with him as well. I know you know that.
The fact that you come here and share what you've learned through understanding those close to you who have fallen to this disease speaks to who you are. I've learned much about recovery and gained insight into tried and true methods from you.. I hope you know you've helped many people here, me especially.
What I believe Bob, it that it is our faith in Christ, not our works on earth that saves us and brings the holy spirit so we may enjoy a relationship with God. This is not to say we can do anything we want and count on a free ride. When one truly understands the nature of the gift being offered, an obedient attitude will naturally follow. As to my moral behavior, well scripture is pretty clear on that. I look to the sermon on the mount. I love all that Christ spoke. When he asked on the cross why God had forsaken him, it was because at that point he truly suffered hell for us all. It was required. He felt the fires of hell burning so that we won't have to..
Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I know it's a Psalm...unsure which.
My Pastor chose that one for my baptism. Tells you a little about me, huh?
In His name, Beck
The fact that you come here and share what you've learned through understanding those close to you who have fallen to this disease speaks to who you are. I've learned much about recovery and gained insight into tried and true methods from you.. I hope you know you've helped many people here, me especially.
What I believe Bob, it that it is our faith in Christ, not our works on earth that saves us and brings the holy spirit so we may enjoy a relationship with God. This is not to say we can do anything we want and count on a free ride. When one truly understands the nature of the gift being offered, an obedient attitude will naturally follow. As to my moral behavior, well scripture is pretty clear on that. I look to the sermon on the mount. I love all that Christ spoke. When he asked on the cross why God had forsaken him, it was because at that point he truly suffered hell for us all. It was required. He felt the fires of hell burning so that we won't have to..
Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I know it's a Psalm...unsure which.
My Pastor chose that one for my baptism. Tells you a little about me, huh?
In His name, Beck
He's a good God that we serve, full of gentleness and compassion, and worthy of our attention. he gave me life. he sustains me in life.
And his Son is full of redemption.
And these pains, sufferings, illnesses, shortcomings, losses, death, etc, -- he didn't make any of them and he doesn't send them to us as some may erroneously thinks. most i believe has their origin in what we as catholics call original sin and the fall of early man, our ancestors -- which Jesus came to restore, with our co-operation.
My son, who just celebrated his 25th birthday, is a wonderful blessing to me, as are my other two children. And, thank God, he is facing his disease. Working the 12 Steps, has a tough as nails sponsor who is brutally honest with him (what more could a person ask for?) and who insists on honesty from him, has returned to the pursuit and development of his spiritual life -- even went to sacramental confession the week before Easter > a wonderful experience for him, goes to meetings, is dealing with and getting in touch with his feelings, meditates daily, and is reaching out to others in their addiction, pain, and suffering. yes, i'm proud of that man.
hey, beck, thanks for asking about me. hope you are finding some relief.
peace.
