Monday, January 5, 2015
Self Centeredness
The 12th Step of Alcoholics Anonymous is "having had a spiritual
awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to
alcoholics and practice these principles in all our affairs." This step
clearly places a responsibility upon me as I can't possibly give away
that which I don't have. The Big Book of AA says "we have recovered and
been given the power to help others." The power to help others is a
direct result of the spiritual awakening, received in Step Twelve, and
until that has occurred for us it is going to be pretty difficult for
that to occur for other alcoholics that we may be helping. But once the
spirit has been awakened within us we can"t possibly be in the will of
God without helping others. Once the spirit has been awakened and we
now have the power we are asked to carry this message not only through
our words, but also by incorporating the principles of Alcoholics
Anonymous, the Twelve Steps, into our lives so that our behavior can be
an example for others. Once the spirit has been awakened in them they
can then lead a recovered life. They will then have the power to help
others in the sense that is necessary so that others may recover from a
seemingly hopeless state of mind and body,
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There is no doubt that I drank to oblivion due to my deadened spirit. I sought spirits to revive my spirit. What I got, instead, was chaos, disorder, disenfranchisement and daily drunkenness. It took more pain than I could withstand to convince me to ask for help in the only way effective for me, AA. The admission of powerlessness was liberating. AA was a place to go to fill in the formerly drinking days and nights, and to find companionship with courageous characters who knew life from a bar stool but had had enough. Former sots like me helped me and gave me the comfort and hope I needed to find the right path. But only by incorporating The Twelve Steps into my life did I feel any new sense of self. A sense of awakening to a new dimension of existence, and a desire to return this gift to other sufferers through and with my awakened spirit. It is not simply what I've learned in AA but what I've learned to give away that keeps my spirit alive and renewed. Keeping myself to myself is a ticket to unhappiness and frustration. Giving myself to another from the deepest recovering part of me is life.
ReplyDeleteMichael Thank you for your experience with the program of AA. It is so important to incorporate the program of Alcoholics Anonymous into our life in such a way .. that it becomes our life so that when we are placed in a position to be helpful that we can be helpful in a way that is necessary so they too may recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body....Great Stuff Michael...Armand
ReplyDeleteThe Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous dedicates an entire chapter to its 12th step. In order to work on such a deep experience as a result of these steps , I take on such a divine responsiblity , I must have trudged this path myself . My own relationship with Him depends on each Inspiratioal moment , on every breath I draw. He sustains me and he will draw others to me and me to them. As a result of these 12 steps His message will be shared through not just my words but more importantly my conduct ! In the 12 and 12 step and tradition book Bill wrote the most pages on the Steps in Step 12 chapter, is that a quisidental I came to believe not !
ReplyDeleteDon our conduct is what certifies our words. When we help others through the Twelve Steps of AA initially they are seeing if our behavior is that of which we speak and when it is it helps them believe that what we say is true and motivates them to progress with the program...Thanks so much...Armand
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