“For you, we have a special version. It's called the “STEP ASIDE PRAYER.””

Three readings. A song that says the rest. And inspiration for whatever this day is here to teach.

A lone surfer riding inside a great curling wave

Read — the readings that opened the day

Sleeping Beauty

William Shakespeare

“My soul, sit thou a patient looker on; judge not the play before the play is done; her plot has many changes, every day speaks a new scene, the last act crowns the play.”

Reading

Bill Harris

“The act of stepping aside to watch helps create conscious awareness, because it keeps you from becoming lost in the feelings or behaviors, or your mental analysis of them. It makes it much more difficult to continue suffering. This watching needs to be done, however, without attachment to the outcome. In other words, you must objectively and curiously watch what is happening —not to change anything, but just to notice what is happening. The ability to step aside and watch yourself as you feel and act is an acquired skill that takes time and practice to develop, but it will totally change your life. Meditation naturally develops your ability to become the witness.”

Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Meditation for the Day "He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings." The first part, "He brought me up out of a horrible pit," means that by turning to God and putting my problems in His hands, I am able to overcome my sins and temptations. "He set my feet upon a rock" means that when I trust God in all things, I have true security. "He established my goings" means that if I honestly try to live the way God wants me to live, I will have God's guidance in my daily living. Prayer for the Day I pray that my feet may be set upon a rock. I pray that I may rely on God to guide my comings and goings.

Reflect — Steve L.'s own words

Not long ago, I was having difficulty with relationships with some people in my family. Not only had I been raised & trained by a brilliant engineer schooled in production management, I was influenced by the media with shows like “Father Knows Best,” “Bonanza,” and of course James Bond movies.

Dad also had notepads printed with the words “Do It Right” that he had distributed to his department managers and others, including me!

Measure twice, cut once; preparation and critical thought had been drilled into my head.

I met with my sponsor, irritated and out of sorts. After talking for a while, he said something I clearly remember and try to utilize each day.

Dave said, “Steve, you’ve heard of the set aside prayer?” What, did he think I was stupid? Of course I had, and I recited it to him!

He laughed, and simply said, “For you, we have a special version. It's called the “STEP ASIDE PRAYER.”

Thanks Dave, like the old Coca Cola slogan, “It’s the pause that refreshes.”

Then last night, at the meeting, I sat with Lee D. and thanked her for her wisdom and her help letting go.

And the speaker Karen did a fabulous job talking about gifts of Love & Freedom, promises from continuing to work all 12 Steps.

God, help me continue to practice the Step aside prayer; that I may enjoy the waves today with Love & compassion, the magic formula to freedom!