I spend a fair amount of energy trying to attain and maintain humility...being humble just does not seem to come naturally...some people have it as a personal quality, an aura, almost, and I recognize that in them, but it ain't me.
So I find myself even taking pride in being humble...like if I wasn't as vocally opinionated as I wanted to be and I am patting myself on the back for being "humble" enough to keep my mouth shut!
But actually, today I am feeling proud, and proud of my pride. Today I am not an active addict, not an active alcoholic, I am not street homeless, I am not working a strip joint, I am not in a shelter for battered women, I am not in jail, I am not crazy and dangerous, I am not a thief...need I go on?
Anyway, the rush of the day was this: Because I am NOT as described above, I got asked to sit on a review panel to determine where a bunch of money ought to go. I tipped the scales, and the funds went to a program to help get homeless addicts off the street, off the drugs, and into a process leading to permanent housing, with all the decent short and long-term supports that are really needed built right into the program. Whatta rush.
And even tho proud, I know where the glory goes...so, is it possible to be "humbly proud"?
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From dying and surviving to living and thriving. LeeU
Yeaaa Lee.. I came to realize awhile ao that pride wasnt the problem.
It was FALSE pride which is the defect of character... Yes I need to have some pride in what I do, otherwise it will be shoddy, complaint filled work. I need to be proud about od,,, otherwise Im a faithless, egoistic loafer... I need to have pride in my family and friends,,, they are like lamps on the road,,,the distances arent shotrened but I can see and be safe because of their LIGHT !!! I need pride in recovery and the NA Way,, else Im easy meat for the using circles.....
That said, I also remember how someone once shared that " if I am humble, I will not be humiliated, but when I et humiliated because of false pride, I may not become humble and will hurt for a long time. So, it's better to be humble right from the start"...........................
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
Hey Lee! oh yeah from the den of iniquity to working to make a difference! I can hear the words echoed from the 'POWER' that allowed us TO STILL be here,'WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT"!!!! Today I also am "proud" to have served our country for 4 years as a veteran of the armed forces and I thank all my predecessors and those who are now serving and those to come and their families for helping all of us to have opportunities that many in the world aren't as fortunate to have ! To God give the glory.............Have a blessed and productive day!!
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Nice work Lee. I don't think "the sin of pride" has anything to do with the glow we feel when over coming an obstacle to achieve a difficult task. You did a good thing here. Take a moment to bask in the sun.
