I had a question earlier this week from someone about the closing prayer at a meeting. It was about the use of The Lord's Prayer and wasn't that an issue as it is generally recognized as a "Christian" prayer.
This took me back to my first days in Al-Anon. You know the first meeting I attended regularly, and what I now consider my home group, used the Lord's Prayer in their closing. Honestly it kind of freaked me out on a couple of levels.
First the whole God or Higher Power thing freaked me out when they read the Steps. But I was in such pain, and they said "as I understood him" that I kept coming back.
Second was that I remembered the Lord's Prayer. As if it had been drilled into me like the periodic table or formulas I used in engineering were. I hadn't been near a church in decades, and yet the words to the prayer came out of my mouth as if I had been saying them daily for those decades.
Over time, I learned to accept that when I said the words "Our Father" in the prayer I was speaking to my HP and to the group's HP. My HP is still not well defined for me and that is okay.
Eventually someone came along in our group and suggested at a Group conscience meeting that we change to the Serenity Prayer. We discussed it and we did make the change. The key is that we decided as a group what we wanted to do. Concept 4 says "Participation is the key to harmony." This is so incredibly true in Al-Anon. If you participate, you gain so much. Maybe it doesn't get done your way, but the feelings you get from participating and listening to others is tremendous.
The Service Manual actually leaves it up to the groups to decide how to close their meetings. It specifically says "Will all who care to join me in closing with the _____ prayer?" It is purposely left blank for each group to decide on this part of their meeting, sticking with Tradition 1 that the greatest progress for all comes from unity.
Enjoy your meetings this week. Each one is as unique as the people who participate. For that I am grateful.
Hugs,
Angela B.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
a mixed feeling kind of day
Many of you know that the person who has been the father figure in my life for the last 25+ years passed away earlier this year. (he was my ex-stepfather, but for all intents and purposes a dad to me). Today would have been his 65th birthday. So I'm feeling a little sad that I can't pick up the phone to call him. To tell him Happy Birthday and that his present, and card, will be late as usual.
This was sort of an ongoing joke between us. We eached missed the other's birthday entirely once. We were both always horribly late on the cards and gifts. I actually got my birthday card for June of 2009 in January 2010 just as he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. It had been on his desk for months to be mailed.
On the other hand, I'm happy today to have handed off a lot of the District 5 office responsibilities to two very capable women who have offered their service as Office Coordinator and one brand new employee for the office. All three were here in the office today and I think they are all on the same page and we are going to start rocking out as a Literature Distribution Center/Al-Anon Information Service.
If you don't know what an LDC or AIS are, I suggest you go to the Al-Anon member's website http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/members/ and log in. The log in is self explanatory. Then, click on Group Services and then Guidelines to read G-4 Al-Anon Information Services and G-18 Literature Distribution Centers.
So, enough for now. I've got some reading to get done.
Yours in service,
Angela B.
This was sort of an ongoing joke between us. We eached missed the other's birthday entirely once. We were both always horribly late on the cards and gifts. I actually got my birthday card for June of 2009 in January 2010 just as he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. It had been on his desk for months to be mailed.
On the other hand, I'm happy today to have handed off a lot of the District 5 office responsibilities to two very capable women who have offered their service as Office Coordinator and one brand new employee for the office. All three were here in the office today and I think they are all on the same page and we are going to start rocking out as a Literature Distribution Center/Al-Anon Information Service.
If you don't know what an LDC or AIS are, I suggest you go to the Al-Anon member's website http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/members/ and log in. The log in is self explanatory. Then, click on Group Services and then Guidelines to read G-4 Al-Anon Information Services and G-18 Literature Distribution Centers.
So, enough for now. I've got some reading to get done.
Yours in service,
Angela B.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
District 5 office
Hi all,
Well, we have filled the role at the office vacated by Cynthia. Our new employee starts tomorrow! Hurray!
Many thanks to Dick R. for his leadership in finding candidates, scheduling interviews, and scheduling temporary help during the interim. Thanks to Rick B. for his service on the interview and selection committee.
Also, someone has stepped forward to serve as the Office Coordinator. Actually a team of two someones. I am so relieved and happy. You truly have no idea.
I have been feeling completely overwhelmed by the DR thing and Cynthia's leaving sort of sent me over the edge. It was the last straw and broke my back for about a 3 week period, culminating in 3 really bad days the week before last, a late night phone call to my service sponsor who was away in the mountains, and a great deal of turmoil in my mind and heart. Plus much crying and blubbering.
So, I'm moving forward again. Working on trying to find balance in my life for all that I do - work, District Rep, my meetings, my involvement in a professional organization, pottery classes, and physical therapy following knee surgery that is still continuing.
My service sponsor and I talked again at the end of this past week and she will knock me upside the head (gently) when I let myself feel so beaten up again.
The District meeting on October 9 went well and Fall Assembly is coming up fast.
Well, the dryer has buzzed and it is time to put away clothes before going to bed for a new work week.
Thank you to the many of you that shared hugs with me over the past two weeks. They have meant more to me than you will ever know.
Angela B.
Well, we have filled the role at the office vacated by Cynthia. Our new employee starts tomorrow! Hurray!
Many thanks to Dick R. for his leadership in finding candidates, scheduling interviews, and scheduling temporary help during the interim. Thanks to Rick B. for his service on the interview and selection committee.
Also, someone has stepped forward to serve as the Office Coordinator. Actually a team of two someones. I am so relieved and happy. You truly have no idea.
I have been feeling completely overwhelmed by the DR thing and Cynthia's leaving sort of sent me over the edge. It was the last straw and broke my back for about a 3 week period, culminating in 3 really bad days the week before last, a late night phone call to my service sponsor who was away in the mountains, and a great deal of turmoil in my mind and heart. Plus much crying and blubbering.
So, I'm moving forward again. Working on trying to find balance in my life for all that I do - work, District Rep, my meetings, my involvement in a professional organization, pottery classes, and physical therapy following knee surgery that is still continuing.
My service sponsor and I talked again at the end of this past week and she will knock me upside the head (gently) when I let myself feel so beaten up again.
The District meeting on October 9 went well and Fall Assembly is coming up fast.
Well, the dryer has buzzed and it is time to put away clothes before going to bed for a new work week.
Thank you to the many of you that shared hugs with me over the past two weeks. They have meant more to me than you will ever know.
Angela B.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tuesday, Tuesday (but sung to "Monday, Monday" tune)
Hi all,
Got to attend my home group last night. That meeting is so special to me. The people in that room have given me so much comfort over the last 2.5 years+. It is so reassuring to know that others suffer from this disease and that it has messed up their thoughts as much as it has messed up mine. Who knew your brain could deceive you so well?
So, we talked about sponsorship last night as our topic. It has been on my mind lately for several reasons, not the least of which is that I sat down on Sunday and reviewed/completed Step 3 with my sponsor. Hurray for me!!! It is so funny sometimes to read the answers I wrote. I think to one of the questions all I did was write more questions!
I don't usually sit down and chug out the answers to a Step all at once (I'm working through the questions in Paths to Recovery). Step 3 spanned from March to August for me to answer all of the questions. So, when I go back to read what I wrote 3-6 months ago, it is quite interesting.
My program sponsor is also my service sponsor for me in the DR position. So, I got to spend some time talking to her about DR and how all of that is going. In my mind I'm not living up to what I think I should be doing. But I'm learning that is my disease talking to me. So, I just keep reminding myself every single solitary day (sometimes hourly) "Progress, not perfection."
Well, I'm through the first cup of coffee, so I guess it is time to dig into the work I get paid for.
Hugs to all of you. Don't be afraid to think of service to your group or your District. It is a wonderful way to practice your program skills in a forgiving and encouraging environment.
Angela B.
Got to attend my home group last night. That meeting is so special to me. The people in that room have given me so much comfort over the last 2.5 years+. It is so reassuring to know that others suffer from this disease and that it has messed up their thoughts as much as it has messed up mine. Who knew your brain could deceive you so well?
So, we talked about sponsorship last night as our topic. It has been on my mind lately for several reasons, not the least of which is that I sat down on Sunday and reviewed/completed Step 3 with my sponsor. Hurray for me!!! It is so funny sometimes to read the answers I wrote. I think to one of the questions all I did was write more questions!
I don't usually sit down and chug out the answers to a Step all at once (I'm working through the questions in Paths to Recovery). Step 3 spanned from March to August for me to answer all of the questions. So, when I go back to read what I wrote 3-6 months ago, it is quite interesting.
My program sponsor is also my service sponsor for me in the DR position. So, I got to spend some time talking to her about DR and how all of that is going. In my mind I'm not living up to what I think I should be doing. But I'm learning that is my disease talking to me. So, I just keep reminding myself every single solitary day (sometimes hourly) "Progress, not perfection."
Well, I'm through the first cup of coffee, so I guess it is time to dig into the work I get paid for.
Hugs to all of you. Don't be afraid to think of service to your group or your District. It is a wonderful way to practice your program skills in a forgiving and encouraging environment.
Angela B.
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