Daily Reflection

MAY 4
"ENTIRELY HONEST"
We must be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to
live long or happily in this world.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 73-74
Honesty, like all virtues, is to be shared. It began after I
shared ". . . [my] whole life's story with someone . . . "
in order to find my place in the Fellowship. Later I shared
my life in order to help the newcomer find his place with
us. This sharing helps me to learn honesty in all my
dealings and to know that God's plan for me comes true
through honest openness and willingness.

Daily Reflection

MAY 3
CLEANING HOUSE
Somehow, being alone with God doesn't seem as embarrassing
as facing up to another person. Until we
actually sit down and talk aloud about what we have so
long hidden, our willingness to clean house is still largely
theoretical.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 60
It wasn't unusual for me to talk to God, and myself, about
my character defects. But to sit down, face to face, and
openly discuss these intimacies with another person was
much more difficult. I recognized in the experience,
however, a similar relief to the one I had experienced when
I first admitted I was an alcoholic. I began to appreciate the
spiritual significance of the program and that this Step was
just an introduction to what was yet to come in the
remaining seven Steps.

Daily Reflection

MAY 2
LIGHTING THE DARK PAST
Cling to the thought that, in God's hands, the dark past is
the greatest possession you have—the key to life and
happiness for others. With it you can avert death and
misery for them.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 124
No longer is my past an autobiography; it is a reference
book to be taken down, opened and shared. Today as I
report for duty, the most wonderful picture comes through.
For, though this day be dark— as some days must be—the
stars will shine even brighter later. My witness that they do
shine will be called for in the very near future. All my past
will this day be a part of me, because it is the key, not the
lock.

Daily Reflection

MAY 1
HEALING HEART AND MIND
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being
the exact nature of our wrongs.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 55
Since it is true that God comes to me through people, I can
see that by keeping people at a distance I also keep God at
a distance. God is nearer to me than I think and I can
experience Him by loving people and allowing people to
love me. But I can neither love nor be loved if I allow my
secrets to get in the way.
It's the side of myself that I refuse to look at that rules
me. I must be willing to look at the dark side in order to
heal my mind and heart because that is the road to freedom.
I must walk into darkness to find the light and walk into
fear to find peace.
By revealing my secrets—and thereby ridding myself of
guilt—I can actually change my thinking; by altering my
thinking, I can change myself. My thoughts create my
future. What I will be tomorrow is determined by what I
think today.