I usually put a scripture at the end of my blog. Today is different. I woke up this morning with this verse in my head.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
My next thought was— ”How do we NOT give up meeting together when we can’t be together, or even be within six feet of another person?”
We are finding new ways...
All of the AA meetings in my county have been closed for in-person meetings. And probably across the state, country and around the world, for that matter. So, for an alcoholic in recovery, this can be hard. Isolation was a big factor in my drinking days, especially toward the end, when I needed to drink all the time. It was much easier to be alone in isolation with my drinking and get away with it. This shelter-in-place order would have created the perfect scenario for me to hide out. Instead, a fellow sober friend and I started our two AA meetings at my church online—for “such a time as this” (as she always says!)
But now, in sobriety, for the last 5744 days, I get to find new ways of living, one day at a time. I start my day with prayer for the day and how I can help others stay sober and teach them how to reach out and reconnect.
Within one week of the shelter-in-place order, the AA Central Office had meetings online in Zoom video conference meeting format. Wow. This is a great way of finding new ways to meet and encourage one another.
In sobriety, we learn that we cannot do this alone. We need each other and we need God. I realized that we, as a recovery community, have a leg-up on this whole “how do we do life thing” now that things have changed. We have all the tools of our program of the twelve steps, that work in every situation to keep us sober—and just live life, for that matter.
I am not in control—of my circumstances, our world, others around us and at times, my own thoughts. That’s when I get to turn it over to God. Release myself of trying so hard. Be kind to myself. Be kind to others. Be there for those in need—whether its in a Zoom meeting online or phone call to reach out.
Let’s keep finding new ways to help and serve.
Here is a poem someone sent that gave me hope today. I hope it lifts you.
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase,
To added affliction, He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, He multiplies peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men,
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
by Annie Johnson Flint
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