The monthly theme at the Flint Life Enrichment Center recently was The Power of Trust. Just what is trust, anyway? I’m glad you asked! Trust is just another word for Faith. Faith is just another way of saying Belief. How do we get this Trust/Faith/Belief? This is where CBA come into play. We first CONCEIVE the idea of what we want. In this case that there is a place serene place for me. That there is a Higher Power that works only for our best interests and does it 24/7/365. This is the start of having true serenity. Some may call this a dream, Call it whatever you will. Just start with the idea that this is what you wish for.
Next, look around you and observe and listen to others who have had life as hard as you have. Many have had even more difficult lives. Observe that they are now seemingly Serene, Happy, Joyous, and Free. Listen to what they say that they did to get and do now to keep this attitude. Just know that, if they could reach some semblance of joy, that you may also if you do what they suggest. “If they can do it, so can I!” Now comes the time to BELIEVE that if they can do it, so can you.
After Conceiving and Believing, comes ACHIEVING. This is when the initial idea comes to fruition and now we know, feel, trust, taste, believe and have faith that it can and will happen to us. We will know that there is a serene place in our lives. We know because we feel with every fiber of our body that it is happening now!
Now, how can we use this in our everyday lives? Use the spiritual portion of the program in ALL of our affairs, 24/7/36., Not just when at meetings or when things are calm and serene. To work our program 24/7/365 is really not difficult. How is it done? Merely continue doing the next right thing. How will you know if it is right? If you are working your program 24/7/365 to the best of your ability, and it feels good, it IS right and good.
If there is any apprehension at all, stop and reconsider. These hesitancies are likely instincts. If you hesitate or do something ‘instinctively,’ this may just be God’s way of communicating with you. So pay attention! When things go well, say “Thank you, God.” When depression or lows appear, say “God, help me,” and then just move on to the next right thing. I am truly blessed to be Happy, Joyous, and Free and no one or nothing will bring me down.
As Reverend Stephanie said recently, this all is an “inside job.” You can not make me happy or sad. Only I and my reactions to things control this. The Serenity Prayer does not say to ask others for peace, joy, or serenity. It does say to seek it inside ourselves. It says that we do this by having the wisdom to know the difference between what we can change and what we can not. If it is me, I can change it. If it is not me, I can’t change it. This also applies to fixing others and “problems of the world.” SIMPLE, huh?
When I was alone, I was with my biggest enemy. Now, when alone, I am with my best friend. You can not make me happy or sad. Only I can accomplish that. I think I will make the rest of my day a great one. How about you? God bless you!
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