The very next day the farmer was in his field when he looked up on the hill beyond and saw his beautiful white stallion. Behind his beautiful white stallion were four more white stallions just as beautiful as his. All the people from the village came running out to the farmer saying, "It's a good thing you didn't trade your beautiful white stallion for a quarter of the king's kingdom, as now you have FIVE beautiful white stallions. You could probably get half of the king's kingdom now!" The farmer said, "I don't know if it's a good thing, I don't know if it's a bad thing, all I know is I now have five beautiful white stallions."
The very next day the farmer's son was breaking in one of the wild white stallions when he was thrown from the stallion and broke both of his legs. So now, all the people from the village came running out to the farmer saying, "What a bad thing that has happened to you. You need your son to work in the fields and now he can't as he has two broken legs." The farmer replied, "I don't know if it's a good thing, I don't know if it's a bad thing, all I know is that my son has two broken legs."
The very next day the kingdom goes to war and all the able-bodied men are drafted into the army after which they will go to the front end and they will surely die. The farmer's injured son could not go as he had two broken legs. So, all the people from the village came running out to the farmer saying, "That is a good thing that your son was thrown from the wild white stallion and broke both his legs, as he would have been drafted into the army, been sent to the front end and would have surely died." The farmer replied, "I don't know if it's a good thing, I don't know if it's a bad thing, all I know is my son can't go as he has two broken legs."
The moral of the story is that we are not to judge what is occurring in our life as "good" or "bad", but to have faith and trust in God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.Written By Armand
Patience, calmness, restraint, belief in my instincts, trust, an understanding of time and space, inner strength, focus, family unity, the power of not-me - all things I lacked but needed to live as I was born to live. An absence of me took me to alcohol and alcohol took me to Alcoholics Anonymous where I found a teacher with a Big Book and a program of action. By integrating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they have become my life, I know it's a good thing. I have The Power Within me. I can distinguish His Will from mine. Living as the person I was born to be imbues me with the power to carry it out. And to give it all away.
ReplyDeleteMichael trust in God allows an Alcoholic to live in the present...Thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteThis is truly one of the most miraculous apprehensions of deep faith and humility that can be acquired. Resting in the absolute understanding that Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose," is the cornerstone upon which experiential serenity is constructed. Many thanks for once again teasing this topic to life.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully recovering Alcoholic peace can be found but as Bill says "a price had to be paid."..thank you...Armand"
ReplyDelete"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics." - C.S. Lewis
ReplyDeleteThank you for demonstrating to us how to live in the will of God!
Jim you are welcome. fear not the Lord loves you....Thank you...Armand
DeleteI don't know what's good or bad for me. "More will be revealed" is one of the most useful phrases I have learned in AA. As is "the wisdom to know the difference." The "things I cannot change" turn out to be most things, so I might as well use acceptance on them. When a perceived problem comes into my life and I feel the anxiety to DO SOMETHING about it, that's often the first warning sign that I am back in self-will, not in God's will. "Trust in God allows an alcoholic to live in the present"-- well put.
ReplyDeleteDan i agree, when I see my character defects manifested in my behavior I am in my nature...Thank you...armand
ReplyDelete