Redeeming things

[tim-one]

I have a long-time idea from my Bible reading that things can be redeemed.

"Redeem" - To buy back, repurchase; To free from captivity by payment or ransom.

The quote to which I refer is "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Eph. 5:16) Save the good from the evil.

It ocurred to me that I can redeem things I'd used for evil, perverted the goodness they were intended for. I can even redeem things intended for evil and make good out of them. My HP does that stuff all the time.

You've seen me do it in my poyms. I'm going back and changing a word, a line, adding a verse that "redeems" my original selfish, perverted, angry, dark intent ... making them sobriety related.

Today, I'm working on songs.

My mom used to sing a little diddy to us when we were feelin' all sorry for ourselves:

I get the neck o'the chicken
I get the burnt piece o'toast
I get the seat in the movie
Smacko in back o'the post
Oh, I'm so mistreated
Nobody's sadder than me
My fanny's always get'n beated
Poor poor pitiful me

I've got a new feelin-sorry-for-myself tune:

Green Day - "Basket Case"

Do you have the time
To listen to me whine
About nuthin and everything
All at once
I am one of those
Melodramatic fools
Neurotic to the bone
No doubt about it
Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I'm crackin' up
Am I just paranoid?
Or am I stoned?

(I didn't change a word OR the meaning. Just adopted it.)
_________________

My song about stepwork:

Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Give it away"
(Really ... the steps ... I'll prove it)

What I got you gotta give it to your mama
What I got you gotta give it to your papa
What I got you gotta give it to your daughter
You do little dance and then drink a little water

(Hhmm ... Drugs? Nope. Love? Nope. Doesn't need water.)
(Spreading the benefit of sobriety to those hurt.)

What I gotcha gotta get it put it in you
What I gotcha gotta get it put it in you
What I gotcha gotta get it put it in you
Reeling with the feeling, don't stop, continue

(Own it. Make it yours. Feelin' it? Keep workin' it.)

Realize I don't want to be a miser <getting less selfish
Confide wisely you'll be the wiser <get'n sponsored
Young blood is the lovin' upriser <revolting against the tyranny of the disease
How come ev'rybody wanna keep it like the Kaiser? <starting step 12

(stepWORKER'S OF THE WORLD UNITE! - the Communist revolution against the Kaiser)

(Not convinced? Show me a doper doin' THIS with his stash - step 12)

Give it away, give it away, give it away, give it away now
Give it away, give it away, give it away, give it away now
Give it away, give it away, give it away, give it away now
I can't tell if I'm a kingpin or a pauper <it's working; "principles before personalities"

Consider the song redeemed - for me.

More coming, like it or not.

Love,
Tim1

PS: Know how many love songs you can sing to your HP? Change a word if ya have to. Try it. SING IT. BABY!

[Dallas]

Hi Tim!! Thanks for sharing!!!

"Redeem" - To buy back, repurchase; To free from captivity by payment or ransom.

Isn't that what moms were doing with those funny little blue or green stamps that they would get at the food stores and stick 'em in the little books until they got enough to "redeem" them for someting?

[angel143]

Hiya Timmy...

I like the songs. I like what you said. I have had a rough day today. I tried to call my friends and family...even though they dont understand totally what im going through...its nice just to hear another voice. Well...they either didnt answer or didnt have time to talk. SO...I took a drive and listened to MUSIC. One of my favorite songs that can have so many meanings depending on the day....its great. And you're right...you just have to look for the meaning....

Even though it may not seem positive and uplifting on the surface, to me, this is a song that can lift me and get me through....

Tyketto---Standing Alone

Starin' out the window like I'm waiting for a change
As if I'd stare long enough, I'd see it when it came
I used the book of numbers by the silent telephone
I called up everyone I found, but didn't talk to no one
And the rain comes down as if it's trying to wash me away
And there ain't no romantic movin' lines, like they say

Standing alone, like I got nowhere to go
Standing alone, like the day that I was born
Out on my own, I believe this boy has grown, standing alone
Ain't no way to take a blow when every cheek's been turned
I can't show another side when every side's been burned
I'm helpless, can't fight a raging heart
And I got no use for bein' torn apart
And the world don't seem to have no use for me
'Cos you've given nothing, and nothing isn't free

You can't keep it all inside, I need someone else to stand with me by my side
Give me something to fight, something to hold on to
I just don't wanna be standing alone

Well, thats my 2 cents anyways....

[tim-one]

Yep, Dallas. Only old farts like us would know the REAL meaning of redemption ... GREEN STAMPS!


That was my thinkin', Heather.

Sobriety and God are everywhere if THAT'S what you're looking for.

Looking for something else? That's what you'll find.

Love,
Tim1

[Dallas]

Sorry to hear you've had a difficult day Heather.

There may be more difficult days ahead... but, even if there are... you are never alone.


One of my favorite AA's, and a sponsor to my sponsor, used to say:

"What you're looking for you're looking with.

Uncover. Discover and Discard!"

It took me a long time to figure out what he meant by that. One day, it finally came to me.

"I and the Father are One. He in me and I in him. No man hath ever seen the Father. If you have seen me, you have seen the Father, I and the Father are One."

"I am -- that I am."

"He in me -- and I in Him"

"In Him I live and walk and have my being."

I learned that I was never alone -- and since that time, I know for a fact, that I've never been alone, I'm never alone, and never will be alone.

I personally believe those quotes above are true for each and every one of us. If I'm correct about it... to me it would indicate that in my reality... that we are all in Him and He is in all of us... and we all live and walk and have our being in Him... therefore... we are all-at-One with another... but, most of the time, our perception is that we are all-alone.

We may not have it all together...
But, together... we have it all.

It's our Ego... Our perception of Self... that makes us think that we are alone... unique... individual.. dis-associated.

The chemistry of the cells in our bodies -- is identical.

The air that we breath -- is the same.

The Life that we share is the same Life... even though we have our own unique experience of sharing it.

We think that we possess it... but, perhaps the reality is... it possesses us.

I've heard it said that "Whatsoever thou believest... so be it unto you."

We believe with our thoughts. Our second steps says "We came to believe..." It doesn't say... "We believed". It's an on going process. It's all new for all of us -- all the time -- unless we close the door of our mind. As soon as we "figure it all out"... we closed the door. Leave the door open. Encourage the change. Let the change continue. Keep it green and growing.

Hang in there Heather. There is not one of us -- that is ever alone.

Dallas

[tim-one]

Hiya, Heathery,

hmph ... didn't come out quite like "Timmy".

That's a good one. I get it. It's a great one to turn into a prayer-song. Just depends who ya sing it to. Right?

I'd be inclined to start calling it a Psalm. Check it out. The book is full of songs just like that one. But that's just me.

Dang, Dallas ... You sure are waxing philosoful ! Great stuff you're waxing there. I like the train of thought.

Sounds like John Lennon read that one thing: "I am he as you are me and you are he and we are all together."

I reckon that makes me the eggman. Is you da walrus?

I've always believed that HP is everywhere and is all things. Somehow, THIS time I've come crawling back to Him, it's been REALized on me how tangible that perception can be.

I've never been so aware. And I've been aware all my life. I didn't know this matter-of-degrees was possible. Ferget believin'! It's just all I see. That's all.

When I get to share at a meeting, I end by saying, "Thank y'all for being God's hand on me today."

THAT'S why we're here. To be God's hand in the world.

Here's another one I redeemed a long time ago.

"You just keep on usin' me, cuz I sure am usin' You to do the things You do." I sing that to Him often.

You do it, too. Remember I told you, "YOU GOT USED!"

Heather, go be God's hand on somebody today! You don't have to think you're worthy or got nuthin' to offer. Start doing that and "you will be amazed before you're half way through."

You'd be right. You ain't worthy and you got nuthin to offer. That's the whole point. He's worthy and He's got everything to offer. He just needs a hand. Be one.

Love y'all,
Tim1

[Dallas]

When I get to share at a meeting, I end by saying, "Thank y'all for being God's hand on me today."

THAT'S why we're here. To be God's hand in the world.

Thanks for that one Tim! I believe I'll borrow that one from you and use it as my own! That is really good... and I'd have to write five pages, six wakes, 40 waves in 40 days... and be out of long-winded breath to express what you express in a few simple words! You're good man! 'At boyz gonna learn me sumpin'

Dallas

[tim-one]

Geez, Dallas. Now you're makin' me post another poym ... WAVES.

Gimme a minute. Got a little "redemption" to do to it first.

[tim-one]

'Ight, Dallas. Your poym is ready.

[tim-one]

Step 11 - "improving conscious contact" ... every day, all day. Care back.

Song IS prayer. These you can sing anywhere any time and nobody knows you're praying thanks, love, and worship to your HP.

Redeeming more love songs to sing to HP in the car AND in the grocery line. The only adaptation - Who you sing it to:

The American Breed - Step 3
"Bend me, shape me anyway You want me. Long as You love me, it's alright. Bend me, shape me any way You want me. You got the Power to turn on the light."

Jones/Porter (various artists) - Steps 6, 7, and 12
"Just keep on using me until You use me up.

Talkin' about You using me, but it all depends on what You do.
It ain't too bad the way You're using me,
Cause I sure am using You to do the things You do."


Debbie Boone - Steps 3 & 11
(maybe the most popular wedding song. Some know Debbie wrote it to her HP. No adaptation required.)

"So many nights I sit by my window
Waiting for someone to sing me His song
So many dreams I kept deep inside me
Alone in the dark but now
You've come along

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song

Rollin' at sea, adrift on the water
Could it be finally I'm turning for home?
Finally, a chance to say hey,
I love You
Never again to be all alone

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song

You light up my life
You give me hope
To carry on
You light up my days
and fill my nights with song

It can't be wrong
When it feels so right
'Cause You
You light up my life"

(Notice the use of caps for "You" and "His" ... not just at the beginning of the line.)



Love y'all,
Tim1