You are currently viewing Grace and Humility Allows Us to “Open Up Like a Flower in the Sun”- Step 12

Grace and Humility Allows Us to “Open Up Like a Flower in the Sun”- Step 12

“It is very lonely sometimes, trying to play God.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809 – 1894) U.S., physician, poet, lecturer and author

Today’s SFZ

BE THE FLOWER; NOT THE SUN – “If we really depended upon God [or our H.P.]*, we couldn’t very well play God to our fellows nor would we feel the urge wholly to rely on human protection and care. These were the new attitudes that finally brought many of us an inner strength and peace … .” (12 & 12, p. 116)

How have you caught yourself  “playing God”, lately?

Oliver Wendell Holmes Brief Bio (3:44)

Flower – Moby (3:28) 

Gibran’s God Song of the Flower Meditation feat. Lakme’s Dome Epais (3:12)

The Oxen

by Thomas Hardy

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
‘Now they are all on their knees,’
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
‘Come; see the oxen kneel,

‘In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,’
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.

Zonr Logo pod on acceptance

This Post Has 8 Comments

  1. Tony Omaeboo

    You can plan all you want but God will laugh at it. You don’t have the power God has the power. You have to surrender. I find it hard to surrender sometimes. I need to pray more

  2. Chi chi

    I never thought about it in those terms, but that is just what it is…#iknownow…..

  3. Slim Jim

    so today I am at a crossroads the lovely Wednesday night meeting I’ve been a part of the past 7 years has no 1 showed up for today.so and stead of playing God self I will next week question on what they want to do.

  4. Jim Brown

    In some ways this has been the story of my life…the “GREAT RESCUER” the only problem is that sometimes I need to be rescued….or at least allow myself to be helped/served by others. Someone reminded me of that yesterday, and it was very humbling….thanks. (5)

  5. Br. Buddha

    Hello everyone. My name is Br. Buddha + I am a new bee to the SFZ web site. I write a daily blog on FB + have been asked to share my daily thoughts with you. Here is today’s thought. When you get ready to run, prepare for the run. STRETCH! When you are faced with some difficult situation, prepare to take the right action. PRAY for guidance. Blessings. BB

  6. Margo E.

    While I am usually very busy second-guessing other people (and thereby avoiding looking at my own pain) I forget to be “in spirit,” or to view others not as their own appearance. I am learning that a faithful representation of my own Higher Power is acknowledging your Higher Power, and stepping towards you in a state of love. I have to do this consciously for it is not second nature – it’s my old behavior striking a stance of fear and pain. I am learning to see you – really, just see you.

  7. JB jr.

    I think I’ve been pretty good at delegating responsibility at my spiritual group. In fact, when a minor crisis happened I did not intervene or offer unsolicited advice.

  8. Anonymous

    Playing at being someone else’s Higher Power is a draining and dangerous pass time. For me, there is no way I can surrender to my Higher Power and try to run the lives of others. I can take your inventory in about five seconds flat. My own inventory? A lot longer. I am in awe of the creativity that enters my life – my decisions, my path, when I get the hell out of the way and let my Higher Power rock!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.