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Post by Susan Peabody on Aug 21, 2008 14:57:15 GMT -8
If you have ever had an overwhelming compulsion lifted you do not doubt the importance of divine intervention. I have had the desire to drink, over eat, and hold on too long to a toxic relationship lifted from me as if my magic. Not that I have not worked hard in 12-Step programs. I have. But the compulsions leaving were a miracle in my opinion and this is why LAA is a 12-Step program. At most meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous they read the following from "How It Works" in the AA Big Book. A. We were [addicts] and could not manage our own lives. B. Probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. C. God could and would if sought. I just want to say that this has proved true in my life and that the most important thing you do in recovery is to seek out God, as you understand God. To find God you work the steps. They are your guide to recovery.
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Post by candee on Aug 22, 2008 3:59:19 GMT -8
I would never have gotten through my first week of NC without GOD. I was in pain,but I felt as if I had extra strength.I cant explain it. Also i do have very limited contact with POA,why I dont know.But I feel that the obsession is somehow lifting.I dont have to be emeshed in her life and I think that here again GOD is working to slowly remove the obsessive part and maybe the whole friendship.I feel as if its not my first priority to sort her out anymore.Its as if this issue is in mightier hands than mine.
I have to sort me out and that is priority number 1.
12 steps does work.Ive tried everything on my own,its only after i finished step 3 ( I didnt even take it that seriously ),adn after I made up my mind that NC wasnt an option but a neccessity,that I felt changes happening.Going to rehab,I assume,is another way that GOD has taken over in my life.
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Post by primrose on Feb 11, 2010 13:16:15 GMT -8
Although I am an atheist I long for God. I started to experience an intense longing for God around step 7. I started to read about Mother Theresa who totally lost her faith but longed for God and sought him constantly. I related to that.
I felt this heavy weight in me, this need for connection, the emptiness inside me. My logical brain told me "this is the longing you have to return to the womb, to be one with your mother again, that's all" That may be true, I don't know, but it felt like a need for God, so I called it that.
And now I don't care. I pray to God and I'm happy and it works. Logically, I will always have no belief. I think narcissists or people with narcissistic traits were wounded so early that it's very hard to ever trust in anything higher than themselves, and I am like that. But I've felt enough not to especially worry about that anymore, because connection, conscious contact, nurtures deeper connection and so I just carry on doing that and I feel good and I see no problem with being an atheist who prays and longs for God. Primrose.
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Post by kelleyboy on Feb 11, 2010 13:27:09 GMT -8
Although I am an atheist I long for God. I started to experience an intense longing for God around step 7. I started to read about Mother Theresa who totally lost her faith but longed for God and sought him constantly. I related to that. I felt this heavy weight in me, this need for connection, the emptiness inside me. My logical brain told me "this is the longing you have to return to the womb, to be one with your mother again, that's all" That may be true, I don't know, but it felt like a need for God, so I called it that. And now I don't care. I pray to God and I'm happy and it works. Logically, I will always have no belief. I think narcissists or people with narcissistic traits were wounded so early that it's very hard to ever trust in anything higher than themselves, and I am like that. But I've felt enough not to especially worry about that anymore, because connection, conscious contact, nurtures deeper connection and so I just carry on doing that and I feel good and I see no problem with being an atheist who prays and longs for God. Primrose. I am trying to wrap my head around this, and it is way too mind-bending. But it makes so much sense in so many ways. I have been trying to make myself believe something, i can't seem to believe. I want to believe it, though. I must be a huge narcissist.
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Post by geedee on Feb 11, 2010 13:30:46 GMT -8
Stop trying so hard to believe...and just believe!
It's so simple. You'll never be able to get your head round it, so just accept it if you want to and believe in God.
I have plenty of narcissistic traits too but I'm glad to say i believe in God.
Turned my back on Him but I knew He was there waiting for me to come back. And what a welcome I got when I turned to Him again!
A loving, forgiving wonderful God who never turns away anybody that turns to Him and asks Him for help.
greta
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Post by kelleyboy on Feb 11, 2010 13:42:30 GMT -8
G,
Believe me, I have tried. I think You and Primrose are right. I need to give up trying , and just accept what I have.
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Post by primrose on Feb 12, 2010 1:18:28 GMT -8
Hi kellyboy, I think the thing is, like you say, to give up trying. I just pray and give up the outcome. I don't analyse why I do it, I just do it. And the steps really help with the process. I am such an atheist I really am, probably even more so than Dawkins (he's a bit too woolly for me, hehe! ) So if I can let go enough to pray, am sure it will work for you. Where are you in the steps? I was really opened up by them and have had a spiritual awakening. Best. P.
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Post by kelleyboy on Feb 12, 2010 8:29:29 GMT -8
Hi P,
This is what my sponsor said also. To pray and give up the outcome. God is everything, I have been heard, and whatever results come out of it are supposed to be.
I do need to work the steps here. I have been working them in my SAA, program, but am considering doing them this way too.
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Post by lotus on Feb 12, 2010 18:07:36 GMT -8
in my opinion spirituality is not an intellectual thing. It is part of our ancient animal brain. It is something we just feel and can't explain. If you are trying to intellectualize god, you are doing it wrong. I'm not trying to be mean, I promise. I was blocked when I tried to intellectualize god and spirituality. It's only when I read Ekhart Tolle, and then later recovery writings, did I finally understand how to access spirituality.
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Post by kelleyboy on Feb 12, 2010 18:19:38 GMT -8
Hey Besatt, I actually got a eckhart tolle book. power of now. I havent started it yet though. Maybe this weekend!
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Post by perfectday on Feb 13, 2010 1:02:03 GMT -8
KB, start it as a Valentine's day present to yourself. I think you'll really like it. I am going to read it again now.
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Post by primrose on Feb 13, 2010 3:58:40 GMT -8
Besatt, I feel the same way. I have come to terms with being an animal who needs to worship. I need it, even if it makes no sense. I can "know" that as a mammal I am hard wired to imprint on my mother so that I survive, I can intellectually know that that is probably why I need god, but the simple truth is, I have that need and it's important to honour it. So now I do honour it. It's something in my makeup that needs to be worked with. Like having two legs and not having wings. I can run but I can't fly. I have the need to worship, so I must work within the confines of that need.
It just makes everything better when I do, so I just let go and pray and trust. Best. P.
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Post by perfectday on Feb 13, 2010 4:26:40 GMT -8
I discovered when I had my daughter that I had a need to worship. I've tried all sorts of places to put my spirituality and at the moment I've stopped trying to fit into faiths with a name and I've settled for something that works for me.
I'm halfway through watching something on iPlayer about infinity. Mind-blowing. Have a look for 'Graham's Number' if you want to be blown away. Well, it makes no sense, but it's much, much larger than a Googolplex, and a googolplex can't be written down because the number of noughts in it would take more space to write down than is in the known universe. What??
I used to be all about science, still get thrilled by science, but when you look at what we know now, and that's a smidgeon of what there is to know, then science IS God to me. It's all one and the same in my mind. Some of it we have answers for and some of it we don't, but the Mystery is God.
I get very excited when I think about God now, and I have no idea what it/he/she is! Whatever it is, it loves me, I know that.
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Post by primrose on Feb 13, 2010 7:15:38 GMT -8
My grandmother has an orchard. It's full of very old trees and there are rare apples in the orchard that aren't listed. Recently she decided to get in touch with a group that documents rare apple trees as she was thinking that the trees are old and that they should be pruned so that the species shouldn't be lost. She was given a number of a woman who lives on the other side of the country. So my grandmother called her and they decided to make an appointment for this women to see the trees. she asked my grandmother where she lives. My grandmother lives in a tiny village with two streets in the middle of nowhere. So my grandmother told her where she lives and it turned out that purely by chance this woman was visiting my grandmother's village school. She'd never been to the school before and had never been to that part of the country. The reason she was visiting the school was because they wanted her to teach the children about pruning apples and she'd been thinking that it would be good if she could find an orchard in the local area.
Okay, even I thought that was a cool example of synchronicity! P.
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honey
Junior Member
Newcomer Greeter
Posts: 70
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Post by honey on Jul 10, 2014 12:51:19 GMT -8
PLease Please Please everyone dont stop trying to find your God of your own understanding . insist on it. repeat with yourself God show yourself to me. sacrifice to find him. try your best and put the target of your mental compass on Him. just do things to please him. defend him in front of your friends and family. let everyone around you know that you are no longer pleasing them , but pleasing God .God will show himself to you. for me after years of disappointment with men and other human beings I left my home country in the search for God and I saw his miracles in every day life of mine. I asked him he reveal the path towards him for me. after passing some tiem I had founds the God love letter to you on you tube and I completely connected to it. I felt like God is speaking to me. I found courage and hope and enthusiasm . please dont give up on trying to find him. show perseverance.
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Post by CodepNomore on Jul 10, 2014 21:59:25 GMT -8
What a great thread! Thanks Susan for starting this and to others who commented too.
I am not religious and neither I rely on any religion denomination. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that I absolutely owe my recovery to God.
In my case, I did not look for him, but he found me. While I was in my lowest point of my life: raped, abused, bullied, no self-esteem, no direction, addicted to multiple relationships, sex, foods, etc...he came to my rescue and saved me from the pit of death and destruction; death of hope, conscience, and will to live.
He taught me about unconditional love and acceptance. He gave me my true, healthy identity. He replaced my darkened understanding and destructive cravings with immeasurable wholeness and wellness. I no longer live nor crave my old, dead lifestyle. I am given a new life and many second chances to begin again and have a fresh start. Therefore, I can very well declare that knowing and having him in my heart, is the greatest thing...Ever!
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Post by Susan Peabody on Dec 30, 2015 13:12:31 GMT -8
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Post by leahb on Dec 30, 2015 18:32:04 GMT -8
I view spirtuality as seeing the interconnectedness of all things. It's one of my key tools to use when I feel lonely. I remember that I came from an egg and sperm. A specific egg and a specific sperm. Out of all possible combinations-I'm here. It's like winning a lottery. And-everyone you meet is in the same boat. And isn't it fortunate that we are born at the same time on this planet to learn from one another? There is a divine order to a things. The beauty in the way a mountain looks. The way the water comes in waves at the shore. The delicious smell of spring in the air as the breeze blows by in April. That's my HP. It's in everything I see and dont see. Its also in you and me. It's a power greater than everything and does not judge us, for it loves as as we are it's child and essentially an extension of it. I also had a moment where the beauty of the world enveloped me and I felt like spirit called out to me. I finally heard her.
That was my experience with spirituality. Perhaps something similar or completely different will happen for you.
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Post by Susan Peabody on Nov 20, 2017 11:09:12 GMT -8
Maxwell: I wish not to talk about religion/God. I know that something deep inside me needs the transformation so that I can be blissful alone and I can be blissful in others company. I need some time to open up more here. Hope you understand. Thanks According to Patrick Carnes, a renowned expert in this field, one cannot recover without some form of spiritual transition and peer support. I call this a shift in consciousness. Love addiction is a thinking disorder according to John Bradshaw, and yet you cannot think your way out of it. Bill Wilson, who co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, pointed out the religion was not the answer either. They had tried that for thousands of year. His religious experience while he was dying in the hospital got him sober, but six months later he wanted to drink. He then got the idea to reach out to another alcoholic and he stayed up all night talking to Dr. Bob who was a Christian. Together they started AA which led to a world wide movement of recovery for all kinds of addictions. So Bill Wilson was spiritual and Dr. Bob was religious and they each respected each others differences. On this board we have people who are religious and people who are spiritual and agnostics. There are even a few atheists. But one thing we have in common is that we are love addicts and need each other to heal as well as some shift in consciousness or spiritual awakening. I am glad you understand that. Take care. P.S. God and religion are not the same things. Buddhists don't believe in God but they are very spiritual. In AA they say God is short for Goodness. Find you own path but remember you must change inwardly and that you need some kind of extra ordinary help. If therapy were enough we would not need 12-Step programs.
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