Fellow A.A.s,
Attached please find the June 2021 Jackson County and Josephine County A.A. Newsletter. Thank you for subscribing.
In case you missed reading the email last month, I just would like to remind you of the big change with the newsletter. In the spirit of Tradition One, the service committees of both District 7 and District 16 have elected to combine their individual newsletters into one. Now, the new newsletter can serve the needs of both fellowships. Hence, On the Rogue and Keeping it Simple are now One Day at a Time. Please feel free to send us your comments on this new regional newsletter. Tell us what you think.
If you would like to get involved with the Newsletter or if you would simply like to contribute, please email me @ [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.
Finally, I would like to leave you with these thoughts:
Step Six sounds like a tall order. Fortunately, it does not actually ask that we remove all shortcomings. It simply asks that we become ready and willing to try. Step Six implies that we become willing to admit we cannot do it on our own. God will help, but no one, not even God, can help us unless we open ourselves to it. Step Six is a matter of surrender and willingness.
You may be familiar with some version of the Drop the Rock parable. It’s about the Twelve Step group members who set sail on the ship Recovery across the Sea of Life for the Island of Serenity. As the parable is usually told, soon after the boat pulls away from the dock, the passengers realize some of their friends are not yet on board.
Sure enough, their friend, Mary, comes running down the street and onto the dock. The people on the boat cheer her on. “Dive in and swim, Mary!” they shout. “You can do it!” Mary dives into the water and swims for the boat as fast and hard as she can. But as she gets close to the boat, she slows and struggles to stay afloat. Everyone onboard can see why: a heavy rock is hanging from a snarl of strings around Mary’s neck. “Drop the rock!” they all shout. “Let go! Drop the rock!”
Treading water, Mary looks down at the rock. She realizes it contains her fear, resentments, self-pity, anger, intolerance, and other character defects. She also realizes that if she doesn’t let go of them, she will drown.
She tears off the strings, holds the rock away from her body, and lets it go. Freed of the heavy and useless weight, Mary easily swims the rest of the way to the boat. She climbs aboard, dripping and deeply relieved.
A big part of A.A.’s Twelve Step recovery is learning that God can and will help us to recognize and let go of the character defects, shortcomings and attitudes that would otherwise sink us. With every “rock” we drop, we not only free ourselves to become the people God has created us to be, but our acts of humility, willingness, and courage have a positive and healing “Ripple Effect” on one another, as well.
I am learning every day that the outcome of my life is not entirely up to me if I have fully taken Step Three and Step Eleven. I also realize that since I put my trust in God to guide and direct my life, I will be ok. I know that God has plans for me, plans to prosper and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and future.
So, my friends, I wish you beautiful moments, treasured memories, and all the blessings your heart can know. I pray that God always keeps you and protects you, and most importantly, I pray that you continually lean on God and never ever lose faith. May you have an amazing month. Much love.
Sincerely, your friend,
With gratitude and blessings,
Winslow C