How Our Meditations & Prayers Can Teach Us New “Lessons in Love” – Step 11

Mother and Daughter on a cloud in Meditation w/ sfz

“Just pray for a tough hide and a tender heart.”

– Ruth Graham (1920 – 2007), U.S. author and wife of Rev. Billy Graham on new lessons

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In what ways do you feel praying for others can be a useful lesson in becoming a more loving person?

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OR

How can you show love to someone today without asking for anything back?

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Lessons in Love – Level 42 (4:10) 

Ganesha Healing Mantra for Love – (9:34)

Analysis

Step 11 invites us into a deep, energetic flow. The Basic Text describes love as a moving current. We join others through prayer and selfless care. This connection dissolves the walls of the ego.

Bill Wilson suggests a shift in our perspective. The Big Book encourages us to seek usefulness. We move beyond selfish requests in our meditation. Instead, we ask how to serve our fellows. Thomas Merton echoed this sentiment in his spiritual writings. He believed that “love is our true destiny” (Merton, 1960, p. 21). We find meaning by giving ourselves to the Higher Power.

A Higher Power grants us a “tender heart.” Ruth Graham prayed for strength and soft compassion. We need a “tough hide” to endure life’s storms. However, the heart must remain open to the world. Wellbriety teaches that prayer connects us to all living things. “Prayer is the way we talk to the Great Spirit” (White Bison, 2002, p. 132). This sacred talk changes how we treat our neighbors. We learn to see the beauty in every soul. These lessons in love heal our fractured communities.

References Merton, T. (1960). The Silent Life. Farrar, Straus and Cudahy. White Bison. (2002). The Red Road to Wellbriety. White Bison, Inc.

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Traducción al Español

Citas, Títulos y Referencias

CÓMO NUESTRAS MEDITACIONES Y ORACIONES PUEDEN ENSEÑARNOS NUEVAS “LECCIONES DE AMOR” – PASO 11

CONECTANDO CON EL FLUJO UNIVERSAL –

“Nuevas fronteras se abren ante nosotros a medida que aprendemos a amar. El amor puede ser el flujo de energía vital de una persona a otra. Al preocuparnos, compartir y orar por los demás, nos volvemos parte de ellos.” (El Texto Básico, p. 105)

AGRANDANDO NUESTRAS INTENCIONES –

“El sentido común se convertiría así en un sentido poco común.” “Nunca debía orar por mí mismo, excepto cuando mis peticiones se relacionaran con mi utilidad para los demás.” (El Libro Grande, p. 13)

RUTH GRAHAM –

“Solo pide por una piel dura y un corazón tierno.” — Ruth Graham (1920 – 2007), autora estadounidense.


Análisis

El Paso 11 nos invita a un flujo profundo y energético. El Texto Básico describe el amor como una corriente en movimiento. Nos unimos a los demás mediante la oración y el cuidado desinteresado. Esta conexión disuelve las paredes del ego.

Bill Wilson sugiere un cambio en nuestra perspectiva. El Libro Grande nos anima a buscar la utilidad. Dejamos atrás las peticiones egoístas en nuestra meditación. En su lugar, preguntamos cómo servir a nuestros semejantes. Thomas Merton hizo eco de este sentimiento en sus escritos espirituales. Él creía que “el amor es nuestro verdadero destino” (Merton, 1960, p. 21). Encontramos significado al entregarnos al Poder Superior.

Un Poder Superior nos otorga un “corazón tierno”. Ruth Graham pidió fuerza y una compasión suave. Necesitamos una “piel dura” para soportar las tormentas de la vida. Sin embargo, el corazón debe permanecer abierto al mundo. Wellbriety enseña que la oración nos conecta con todos los seres vivos. “La oración es la forma en que hablamos con el Gran Espíritu” (White Bison, 2002, p. 132). Esta charla sagrada cambia la forma en que tratamos a nuestros vecinos. Aprendemos a ver la belleza en cada alma. Estas lecciones de amor sanan nuestras comunidades fracturadas.


Pregunta Concluyente

¿Cómo puedes mostrar amor a alguien hoy sin pedir nada a cambio?

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Comments

10 responses to “How Our Meditations & Prayers Can Teach Us New “Lessons in Love” – Step 11”

  1. eli Avatar
    eli

    Praying for others helps me to let go of my resentments. Even if I don’t like a person, I don’t have to waste time worrying about them, for better or for worse. I can choose to think kindly about them and let it go. My sponsor has made it clear- I don’t have to make someone who’s hurt me my favorite person or go out of my way to make their life better. That’s not what it’s about. I just need to act like the person I want to be.

  2. VLeigh Avatar
    VLeigh

    When praying for others, especially when there is a difficult situation between us, it takes the focus off of building negative resentments, and brings it into loving light and positive energy towards my fellow human being. It puts me into a more loving headspace, and gets me to ask the question – why is it that they’re behaving this way? Is it possible that they are struggling with something? I would rather wish and pray for good to come to them. That mindset shift does take work, but choosing love and kindness benefits all of us.

  3. Ari L Avatar
    Ari L

    I think praying for others creates a state of empathy through practice that enables us to live that compassion in the hard moments!

  4. Neyun Uzdlah Bayoh Avatar
    Neyun Uzdlah Bayoh

    How can you show love to someone today without asking for anything bacK ~

    By lending them an ear to listen, and by praying for them 🌷

  5. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    Anytime I step out of myself and think of somebody else first it removes my self-centeredness. I will think of someone and then pray for them by asking God to come into their lives. Years ago I asked somebody to prove that God exists. they told me to go alone into a room and simply ask God to reveal himself to me… within a couple of weeks I was blown away Not only was I comforted and felt the Warm Glow of God in my soul, but it made me a believer, and a loving and better person as a result…

  6. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    I did something for others first thing this morning. That is how I show love with out expecting any thing back. And so often in those moments of selflessness that the return happens, often in unexpected ways, for which I am grateful.

    Thank you for sharing recovery with me. Grateful.

  7. Jim Brown Avatar
    Jim Brown

    I think the issue is rather one of why are we being helpful to others. I find for myself that if I am genuinely interested in helping others, then there is no issue with being more loving. When I “help” to satisfy my own needs, then that is a different issue….(5)

  8. Slim Jim Avatar
    Slim Jim

    I still have not gotten used to praying for others but I do try and remember to pray to be of the greatest service especially when embarking on unfamiliar territory. (8mins)

  9. easy does it Avatar
    easy does it

    Thats always been a problem with me. Taking
    things personally its caused a lot of problems
    in the past due to hurt feelings then lashing
    out as a result. I thi k pausing and praying
    Is a solution.

  10. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    “…a tough hide and a tender heart.” Kind of like the first two of the four agreements: 1) Be impeccable to your word, and 2) Don’t take anything personally.” I get to practice this at work when those with whom I no longer gossip are showing an icy disapproval. I greet them with love and treat them as tenderly as I can. I am no better nor any worse than they. We are all just acting out our human-ness and our spirituality to the best of our abilities. Thank you, Higher Power for helping me no longer to gossip. Thank you, Higher Power for helping me not to take anything personally.

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