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
Michael C.
ReplyDeleteFor me, one of the greatest manifestations of inherent defiance is overt impatience. Fire, ready, aim! This is a combined defect that cannot be overcome with the same mind that created it. Instead, I must allow other forces to settle my thinking and set my spirit free. By integrating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they become my life, the events of my life are no longer hostage to the constant evaluation of good thing or bad thing. As you point out, when living in the energy of Step Eleven through The Power Within me, l can and will cease useless self-judgment. Instead, I can live in the undisturbed glow of opportunity to become the man I was born to be. And to then completely offer myself to that freedom.
Michael. We live a life not as our human nature thinks it ought to be but a life directed by the will of God cloaked in love harmony and peace... Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteArmand,
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. It is no coincidence that my morning devotional reading contained in ‘Quiet Moments with God” touches on this very subject and which I humbly share for those of us, with like mind, who struggle to some degree or another with this most common human malady:
Romans 5:1-2 “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the Glory of God.” Lord God, You alone are the source of righteousness and are always on the side of what is right. I confess that there are times when I assume that I know what is right without seeking your guidance.
Give me the humility to be more concerned about being on Your side than trying to recruit You to be on my side. Clear my mind so that I may be able to think Your thoughts. Help me to wait on You, to listen patiently for Your voice, to seek Your will through concentrated study and reflection on Your Word. And free me from the assumption that I have an exclusive on the dispatches from heaven, and that those who disagree with me must also be against You.
I commit this day, Lord, to seeking the best for those around me. Thank You for allowing me the privilege of a right relationship with You through faith in Christ for through Him I have access to Your grace and can live with the assurance that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope. This hope does not disappoint because of Your love poured out into my heart through the Holy Spirit!
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic love when you wrote "asking the best for those around me....Thank you...Armand
Delete"We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us." These beautiful lines from page 164 of our Book apply to the events of my life, too. I have learned over time that the events I might characterize as "bad" may ultimately turn out to be for the best, or at least are part of reality and must be accepted. I have learned to have faith that, as it says on page 417, "Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake."
ReplyDeleteDan love the quotes from the Big Book...thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand, You are doing a great job in laying out the Twelve Step Program within Christian Theology. I wonder for those who have not had a Christian training if they will be able to grasp the Christian AA Pathway as you have laid it out in your posts? I think the term God's Will For You is very confusing to most people in AA and if you asked people to get out a pencil and paper and write down what is God's Will For Them they would be unable to come up with a cogent statement on God's Will For Them. Best, John
ReplyDeleteJohn thanks for your comment. i am sharing my experience strength and hope...thank you...Armand
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