[joesbucks]

Then one night... I heard an AA/NA oldtimer describe his life at that point as happy, joyous and free. I could see it in him and I wanted it. So, I went up to him and asked him how. He said, in general.. stop struggling. Find a Higher Power and surrender to it. When you do... a wonderful thing called intuition will occur. Listen to it . And if your smart... you'll try to never lose it. Some pretty incredible people in the program.

I have done my best to find the way to surrender. Maybe it's not in my nature.

I remember the joke about the guy in the flood who's praying God will save him. A helicopter hovers overhead and drops a rope. The man waves them off saying he's praying for God to save him. When he is finally swept away and comes to meet God he asks God why He let him down. God responds,"Who do you think sent the helicopter".

My question is how do you surrender when there somemany things that look like helicopters when in fact they aren't. How do you know when to let God come in and totally surrender and when to, like the drowning man, reach for something. Not all those life savers are from God.

I watched a tv show last night when the preacher kept saying that in order to receive God's gifts we must be in a spirit of receipt. He never said how to get there or what it is you must do.

I struggle with this. I talk about it with my wife. She can't explain it.

[bikewench]

Joe... Maybe it's not in my nature..

Maybe you just haven't found something you TRUST to surrender to. I had to unload a religious childhood and look to nature before I found my Higher Power. I found soul affirming evidence of "God" uncorrupted by man everywhere there.

So it was easy to admit then that there was "something greater than myself" that I was in awe of... and that I had no need to be "willful" about... and voila... I surrendered.