My name is Jim, and I'm an alcoholic.

AA says something about how when at first we try prayer and meditation, we discover it may not always be on the level of inspiration. In fact, many have used the concepts behind prayer and meditation to justify some of the most harebrained ideas that have ever been thought up. Today, I was talking with a few folks about some ideas I had, before praying about it. Now at the time, I could justify my thinking. But at work today as I was mulling over what I wanted to do, the thought occurred to me that this is something I really should seek the knowledge of God's will for me. So while working, I said a short prayer, which was, "What is Your will in this situation?" I've heard it will take time for the knowing to come, but today I was flooded with the answers immediately. First of all, how do I know what God's will for me in my situation is? Well, if I don't want to do it, that's a good sign right away. I want to do what I want to do, on my terms at my leisure. Gee, I didn't realize God would say, "Hey Jim, dummy ... it's more than likely that if you want to do it, bud, with the historical facts about you, it is wrong!" If it is God's will for me, it will require me to grow and continue to grow spiritually. It will require me to live out virtues to make it possible for this to happen. It will require for me to lay aside vice or defect or sins, and it is good for everyone concerned. Now I know some about of those things and I am certain what I should do for the best of everyone involved. Do I like it? At first thought I would say no, but the truth of the matter is, you bet your sweet and very last bottom dollar on this one, I do have the power to do these things. I don't know why when I immediately said, "OK I will do it," but I instantly knew it could be done, and that it would turn out as good as could possibly be possible.

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