Endigar 524 ~ The Gift of Bonding
From Today’s Daily Reflections;
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 63)
Many times in my alcoholic state, I drank to establish a bond between myself and others, but I succeeded only in establishing the bondage of alcoholic loneliness. Through the A.A. way of life, I have received the gift of bonding—with those who were there before me, with those who are there now, and with those yet to come. For this gracious gift from God, I am forever grateful.
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I am grateful to be able to see the nature of my bondage to isolated self. I fearfully sought perfection rather than progress. AA showed me that I had that backwards. I planned all interactions so that I could protect my prideful icon of strength. Now I can experience the strength of real connections once I began to learn vulnerability with people who have my best interest at heart.
There was a scripture that I never really experienced in church, but that I often hungered to know the truth of it. The 12 steps of AA have given me access to this long sought after serenity.
So, I hope that you will pardon my paraphrase:
Come unto GOMU (God of my understanding), whenever you are laboring for perfection and are heavy laden with the burden of your isolated self, and I will give you rest and recovery. Make My work of love your own, and watch Me closely to see my powerful way of living. Watch how the Infinite One sits with those in need, not demanding, but with humility shares life with them. This will help you keep the serenity I give you, because My work is natural and the burden it produces in your life is simple and light.
Paraphrased from the Gospel of Matthew 11: 28-30.
Daily Reprieve 
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