Big Book Study

[bluidkiti]

Big Book Study - Post #30

Good morning everyone!

We're at *Page 86, paragraph 2*: "On awakening let us think about the
twenty-four hours ahead. ... we ask God to direct our thinking, especially
asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking
motives." (This is one of the Step 11 prayers.) If we are indecisive: "Here
we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. (Another
prayer.) We relax and take it easy." We aren't obsessing on this, we think
of something else knowing that the answers will come. Although we come to
rely upon intuition we always check with others on those thoughts before
putting them into action.

Yet another prayer: the Big Book 11th Step Prayer, *page 87*, *paragraph 1*:
"We usually conclude the period of meditation with a prayer that we be shown
all through the day what our next step is to be, that we be given whatever
we need to take care of such problems. We ask especially for freedom from
self-will, and are careful to make no requests for ourselves only." Here we
are praying for the knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it
out.

What is the outcome? At the top of *page 88*: "We are in much less
danger of (suffering
from) excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-pity, or foolish
decisions."Those foolish decisions caused me plenty of trouble!

Now, you'll notice that Bill was getting at what meditation meant for him:
From the point of "On awakening..." to immediately before "We usually
conclude the period of meditation..." we are engaging in meditation. We are
thinking about what our actions will be, what we will face, how we will
conduct ourselves.

I began my meditation life by quieting the endless conversation that I used
to have with myself inside of my head, quite simply I was driving myself
nuts! Then I started to direct my thinking to what I would face over the
course of the day. Of course that meant that I had to change the way that I
lived. I couldn't continue to live my life as if I was shot out of a cannon
each morning. I received valuable suggestions: instead of waking up at the
last possible second, perhaps if I got up a little earlier that may allow
time for meditation, instead of waiting until the fuel gauge read "E" maybe
I should fill up at 1/4 of a tank. Leaving a little earlier for work would
help my state of mind in the morning, arriving less frazzled and on time.
These and many other suggestions helped immensely. The result was it was
easier to meditate in the morning and prepare for the day.

Today, I get up early -- around 4:30 am. I take my dogs for a brisk walk in
the peaceful darkness around my neighborhood, and take advantage of that
time by communicating with God as I walk. When I get back home, I spend a
little more time in study -- the Big Book, the Bible, or some other material
of a spiritual nature. I spend time digesting the reading, seeing how it
applies to my life, and quietly listening to what God wants to say to me
through what I studied. Then, I spend time in prayer. I try to send a quick
e-mail or two to encourage some of the newcomers online. After that, I drive
to work and during that time I listen to spiritually-edifying CDs, tapes, or
radio.

After beginning my day with prayer and meditation, by the time I begin my
day at the office, I have no fear because I always have a Partner who has
all power. I put in the footwork and the results are up to Him. My life is
no longer the "Chinese Fire Drill" that it once was. The 12 Steps have been
the key.

*Exercise:* Go back and re-read the text and count how many times "think,"
"thought," "brains," "intuition," or their synonyms appear in the text. You
may be surprised to learn how much "thought" goes into meditation!

In our next post we'll begin Chapter 7. Since "faith without works is
dead," there is more action to come.

Have a good day!
Karen H.