“Natural abilities
are like natural plants,
that need pruning by study.”
– Sir Francis Bacon (1561 – 1621) British philosopher
Today’s SFZ
"The easiest thing of all is to deceive one's self; for what a man wish- es he generally be- lieves to be true." - Demosthenes (384 BC - 322 BC) Greek orator / politician WITHOUT SELF-EXAMINATION OUR SPIRITUAL TOOLBOX EMPTIES - "When we for- get where our real strength lies, we quick- ly become subject to the same patterns of thinking and action that got us to the program in the first place." (The Basic Text,p. 48) DOWN THE SLIPPERY SLOPE WHERE DESIRE = TRUTH - "It is easy to let up on the spir- itual program of ac- tion…
STEP TEN –
“We continued to take personal inventory
and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”
SPIRITUAL HARMONY & HAPPINESS – “Incorporating the spiritual principles we learned in the first nine steps into our lives has made it possible to live in harmony with ourselves and others. Self-examination … and owning up to our wrongs are critical elements of conducting our lives on a spiritual basis.” (It Works, How & Why,p. 69)
“If you want to be respected by others the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.”
– Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821 – 1881) Russian novelist – author of Crime & Punishment
“I am not a quit-
ter. I will fight until
I drop. It is just a mat-
ter of having some faith
in the fact that as long
as you are able to draw
breath in the universe,
you have a chance.”
Cicely Tyson (1924 – ) African-American actor on personal power
AND THIS IS WHAT AWAITS – “The spiritual void we felt at the beginning of our recovery has been filled with gratitude, unconditional love, and a desire to be of service to God [or one’s H.P.*] and others. Undeniably, we have experienced a spiritual awakening.” (It Works, How & Why, p. 85)
“TIL YOU USE ME UP” – “We simply realize there is a force for spiritual growth that can help us become more tolerant, patient, and useful in helping others. Many of us have said, ‘Take my will and my life. Guide me in my recovery. Show me how to live.’ ” (The Basic Text, p. 26)
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
– Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) India’s preeminent political and spiritual leader
“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.”
– Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790) U.S. Revolutionary Leader