Like the author of today's CTC, I don't think of myself as being "handy" with tools. I have to learn key concepts about tool use and care, from very patient friends. In my first professional job out of college, one work friend shared with me that our employer's practice of "billing" project time, did not consider the time she needed to maintain her drafting tools, nor to organize between projects.
The author of today's reading shares how a friend pointed out that "oiling a saw before using it makes it work more smoothly, whether it is cutting metal or wood." The author likened that learning to oil a saw, was a bit like learning to apply Program. We overcome skepticism when we see principles demonstrated. We gain faith when we see how other members cope with difficult situations.
In program there were others ahead of me, whose faithful sharing of their program helped me get over my skepticism. I was encouraged to apply the Steps, Al-anon literature, slogans, meetings, and sponsorship to my life and each of its challenges. Some kind of lubricant helps us all work well. When it comes to people, I call it Tender, Loving Care (TLC).
"Like the use of oil, my use of program doesn't change the raw materials of my life, nor does it provide major new equipment. " Program principles help me organize and maintain what already have, and use my skills more considerately. When I use myself with more care, I eliminate "many of my frustrations, giving me great satisfaction."
Today's Reminder
The author of today's reading shares how a friend pointed out that "oiling a saw before using it makes it work more smoothly, whether it is cutting metal or wood." The author likened that learning to oil a saw, was a bit like learning to apply Program. We overcome skepticism when we see principles demonstrated. We gain faith when we see how other members cope with difficult situations.
In program there were others ahead of me, whose faithful sharing of their program helped me get over my skepticism. I was encouraged to apply the Steps, Al-anon literature, slogans, meetings, and sponsorship to my life and each of its challenges. Some kind of lubricant helps us all work well. When it comes to people, I call it Tender, Loving Care (TLC).
"Like the use of oil, my use of program doesn't change the raw materials of my life, nor does it provide major new equipment. " Program principles help me organize and maintain what already have, and use my skills more considerately. When I use myself with more care, I eliminate "many of my frustrations, giving me great satisfaction."
Today's Reminder
"Building a useful and fulfilling life is not an easy task. Twelve Step recovery helps me learn more effective ways of living so that I can avoid needless difficulty." Using the proper tools well, makes progress "just a matter of practice."
"You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so you learn to love God and man by loving. Begin as a mere apprentice and the very power of love will lead you on to become a master of the art." Francis de Sales
Good reminder ! thanks-
ReplyDeleteYes, in my "other" program the slogan, "Easy Does It" has gone missing.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the oil mentioned in the reading for November 12th is about remembering the importance of creating "ease" before I go about using any tool.