--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAN00004 Date: 06/17/97 From: MARIE WEIDEMANN Time: 11:31pm \/To: MATRIKA (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Sponsorees Matrika - The wind whispered your name to me... Ma> re - I don't think it's of overwhelming importance to Him (HER ? - Ma> GRIN) whether or not we believe in a trinitarian three-in-one God, Ma> etc. - (hope I quoted that right). Well I'd have to agree personally Ma> with all of what you said personally; however, we'd probably be better Ma> off discussing that on the Interfaith echo, where I think you'd find Ma> the vast majority of "regulars" would agree with you completely. I Ma> have a feeling it's a bit off topic here. I don't think it is off topic..religion can play a very big part in one's soberity..remember the purpose of this echo is rather like the before and after of the meetings...friends gathering over the coffee pot to talk about things that they need to talk about, one on one...(or in our case here, one on whoever happens to read the message)..and, remember, you are a friend of the moderator... Ma> However, what I meant was not that my particular Church is the problem Ma> with my sobriety, but that my own religiosity - as opposed to Ma> spirituality - can be a problem. I have a tendency to get all caught Ma> up in disputes over such doctrines and miss the point entirely - the Ma> point being what you've said so beautifully. That a lot of this stuff Ma> really doesn't matter to my life. It doesn't matter whether God is Ma> male or female or both or neither or, in some inexplicable way, all of Ma> the above, in my daily routine. IT doesn't matter whether God is, as Ma> you said, a trinity, three beings working together, one being or many Ma> beings or a totally impersonally force, not in my day to day existence Ma> and in my search for sobriety, serenity and recovery. NOW I AM Ma> TALKING FOR MYSELF ALONE HERE - lest someone take offense. But I can Ma> get caught up in this stuff and become very unhappy - as well as to Ma> busy to work on my recovery. In short, I would have to honestly say I Ma> can use religion as another addiction when I want to and let it be Ma> something to hide behind so I do not face the real issues of my Ma> recovery, so that I can stay sick. And so this becomes a part of recovery, in many ways..for good or not.. Remember, if you can...KISS...Keep it simple, silly... Ma> I like what an oldtimer in Maryland AA used to say: "THe only thing I Ma> need to know about my Higher Power is that I ain't it." He'd say Ma> this at least once a month of so at our step meeting and it used to bug Ma> me, but now I am grateful for it. Simple saying with much truth in it.. Ma> My Church does frustrate me with it's local politics and personalities Ma> sometimes, true. But I also have to look at the fact that sometimes Ma> other members don't get drawn into all the contreversy and melodrama Ma> the way I do. Why is that? Perhaps because you need a "cause"...or because it is a part of your personality..to get involved... Ma> In Al-Anon one of the slogans is How Important Is It? and that's a Ma> slogan I really need, but still don't use well. Ma> . Ma> By the way, as a teen, I hung out at a Baptist Church because of their Ma> youth program, although I was not a member - know what you mean Ma> precisely. Ma> . Ma> As for Phil, I'm glad you hooked up with him - I had to made a Ma> mega-ammend to him after posting that to you, as I realized I broke Ma> his anonymity. Fortunately I'm forgiven. (OOOOOOPS - I don't usually Ma> do that.) But I think you'll enjoy the e-mail listing. Sweetie, you are as human as anyone else in the world..we do make mistakes but, at least, you have the courage to admit it and to try to make amends. You, to me, are a mensh... Light, Love and Laughter Marie - Starwitch ... Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced. (Keats) ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 --- GEcho 1.00 * Origin: Phoenix Rising*Wilkes-Barre PA*Starwitch (717)822-2017 (1:268/442) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAN00005 Date: 06/16/97 From: HAROLD DUGGAN Time: 05:46pm \/To: MARIE WEIDEMANN (Read 0 times) Subj: Hello Again Good to here from you! I'm a little short on time, but I am rather compulsive about returning so here I am I guess It might seem a little weird that somebody would focus so much on God at a recovery channel. Actually to me it doesn't, but I am not sure what others do talk about, I guess "other recovery issues. I have become acutely aware that I have my recovery based upon my spritual condition, and my spiritual condition is based upon my relationship with God. It is only God that can right my spiritual sickness. For me, the origin of every recovery issue , problem, difficulty, defect, whatever is an unwillingness to practice step three. Every problem I have with myself or others is a reflection of my self will run riot. If acceptance is that key to all my problems it is acceptance of God's will for me and others, not acceptance merely of the situation. I get some weird looks and comments like fanatical for my beliefs, but it doesn't seem to phase me at all. I have been rocketed into the forth dimension of existance of which we have never known existed as the Bid Book says. I am driven by a new force today, inspired by a new force, governed by a new force. I'm not exactly sure why I am telling you this except its what my fingers are typing. At work the other day my boss was going on about how nobody can prove the existance of God and that nobody knows for sure...nobodies seen and I just turned and looked at him and I said I've seen and I know. He said "what?" and I repeated myself because its true.. I have seen his hand in everything I have done in my recovery and much more still. My boss just stood and stared into my eyes as if to check my sanity and I couldn't even look down or away if I had wanted to. Its a good thing we have a good relationship and he knows me abit or it might not have ended so uneventful, but thats the kind of thing I get from people. Its a little disheartening knowing that there is absolutly nothing I can do but live the Christian life for myself and that nothing I ever say will convince anyone. Kind of like carrying the AA message through the walk. I guess the convincing part is Gods job. God Bless you and keep you well and thank you again for providing this mailing service. --- Maximus 2.01wb * Origin: Communicate Now - Night Wolf BBS (78:519/400) (1:221/1002) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAN00006 Date: 06/17/97 From: HAROLD DUGGAN Time: 06:20pm \/To: GAZOO (Read 0 times) Subj: Something Clicked ;-) Hey Gaz... How's it going? Congradulations on your two weeks. I am certainly not bragging as my sobriety is a gift and not something I do myself but to relate my point I have to tell you that I am over seven years sober as of January. Again man I know how hard it is to be where you are. I remember not even being able to picture in my mind finishing the day with out picking something up. Today it is not my biggest struggle, but it is the struggle I must face to allow the rest of my life to be as it is or better. What i wanted to tell you was that more often than not I have been struggling to hammer this addictive behavior or that character defect or what have you...always with the feeling, rather the knowledge, that I can not make it another day like this, I'm going to fall. Sometimes I fall. Sometimes I don't.I've never had a relaps with alcohol or drugs(one and the same by the way) but I have certainly failed on everything else I've tried to do in this program more than once. The most important things I did was get hooked up with the Higher Power and I went to meetings every single day...for years! Thats how important staying sober was. I knew I was going to live in hell if I didn't stay sober. I didn't know anything else but that was all it took. I still feel that way. I drink on hot days, but it is water or juice or something. Alcohol won't cool you off any faster. Some days at first were only by white knuckless, but I just reminded myself that only an alcoholic would want to drink after all I had been through and that the craving would pass if given enough time and of I got in touch with another alcoholic either by phone or a meeting. YOu wouldn't believe how fast that works Gaz. One day at a time! --- Maximus 2.01wb * Origin: Communicate Now - Night Wolf BBS (78:519/400) (1:221/1002) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAN00007 Date: 06/19/97 From: MARIE WEIDEMANN Time: 05:58am \/To: MICHAEL KASZETA (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Welcome Michael Kaszeta - The wind whispered your name to me... MK> Hi friends, I am the first on here to leave a message and hopefully MK> not the last. I'm 2+years in recovery and would welcome any talk that MK> can come along. Questions, problems, any sounding board you need. I MK> don't have answers but I can tell you my story and maybe you can MK> find answers there. WELCOME Hi Michael and welcome to the Recovery Echo...You can tell your story and perhaps it may help someone else...glad to hear you are in recovery..It works if you work it... Light, Love and Laughter Marie - Starwitch Moderator of Recovery Echo ... Heal the past, live the present, dream the future. -ME ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 --- GEcho 1.00 * Origin: Phoenix Rising*Wilkes-Barre PA*Starwitch (717)822-2017 (1:268/442) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAN00008 Date: 06/19/97 From: GAZOO Time: 03:04pm \/To: TREE WALSH (Read 0 times) Subj: Bonjour :-) Dear Tree Walsh ! Thanks for writing back so quickly... It's a beautiful day out there, so I don't think I'll be on the computer to long. I wanted to let you know that I've recieved your messages and that I understand were your comming from. Again, Please don't take everything you hear to heart! Believe me, it's not all that worthy... I'm glad that we mett throught this echo, and I hope we can stay in touch. I'm living with my sister at the present time, so drinking is far from my mind. However, I'll be moving into my own appartment in a week or so. Then my trials will begin without dought ! I hope to have your support and help, even if I affended you with my bad taste of humor. Take Care ! P.S. Please overlook my spelling. GazOo --- * Origin: Ottawa,Ontario,Canada (1:163/403.2) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAN00009 Date: 06/19/97 From: GAZOO Time: 03:20pm \/To: HAROLD DUGGAN (Read 0 times) Subj: Greetings... Hello Harold! I got your message and I have to say... Thanks for shearing ! I saw myself in the words you used. Expecelly when you sayd that only an alcoholic would think like that... There now no dought in my mind, that I have a real problem with alcohol. I too walked the road to hell, always knowing that things would have to change. People would tell me over and over again how much of a nice guy I was when I was not drinking, and how defrent I was when drinking. Nothing would change my mind. If I wanted to drink, I Had a drink. I'm not sure to this day why i've stoped to tell you the truth. I can only guess that God is keeping his promises. Let's stay in touch... My trails have yet to begin and I'm sure to need help. Thanks Again Harlod ! GazOo --- * Origin: Ottawa,Ontario,Canada (1:163/403.2) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAN00010 Date: 06/17/97 From: RICK BALDWIN Time: 08:28am \/To: CHUCKB@NOW-ONLINE.COM (Read 0 times) Subj: God as we understood him Hi Chuck! RB> Anyway, I have found...and this has been quite a revelation RB> to me...that God 'as I understand Him' is quite different RB> from the God of the denominations I had been exposed to. CB> Once I dealt with the problem of my depressions, I was able to reconcile myself > with the religion I was brought up in. CB> Again, if you contact me privetely, we can discuss this further. CB> God Bless So how did you or do you deal with depression, Chuck? Mine is rather oderate, not too intense, but it is longstanging. I'm not sure I'll ever be completely rid of it...but I try to start each day by putting that day...and myself...into God's hands. This seems to help a lot! Take care... Rick.Baldwin@Lroom.Org -- SPEED 2.00 [NR]: One thing I know about God: I ain't Him. --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: LindenRoom BBS (901) 458-9001 (1:123/215) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAN00011 Date: 06/18/97 From: RICK BALDWIN Time: 07:15am \/To: MATRIKA (Read 0 times) Subj: Sponsorees M> Ciauo! See you on Interfaith as agreed. > . > Is it as hot where you are as here? No wonder fido is slow - nobody > wants to sit and bake by their computers when they can go to the beach. > I wonder why? (GRIN) Makes me want to move to the mountains...any mountains, anywhere...where it s cooler and the humidity is a tad less than 98%. -- SPEED 2.00 [NR]: I think, therefore I...hey, doughnuts!! --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: LindenRoom BBS (901) 458-9001 (1:123/215) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAP00000 Date: 06/19/97 From: BETTY B Time: 05:06pm \/To: GAZOO (Read 0 times) Subj: Something Clicked ;-) congratulations on your 2 weeks :) let me know if i can help you over the "rough spots" betty --- Platinum Xpress/Wildcat! v1.3 * Origin: Dingle Delaware Austin, TX (512) 442-8145 (1:382/48) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 231 RECOVERY Ref: EAQ00000 Date: 06/20/97 From: MATRIKA Time: 11:29am \/To: MARIE WEIDEMANN (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Sponsorees Human? Yeah, but that's the last thing I want to be - I'd rather be a Vulcan thank you very much. Get rid of these sloppy emotions, if you ask me. (GRIN) --- TriToss (tm) Professional 11.0 - #66 * Origin: Keystone BBS * Shrewsbury, MA * 508-753-3767 (1:322/743.0)