Friday, January 2, 2015
The 12th Step - Can't Possibly Give Away That Which You Don't Have
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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I first had to learn that my spirit was blocked, that love and generosity and freedom were unavailable to me in any meaningful way. One-by-one, The Twelve Steps of AA enabled me to find and develop a personal relationship with The Power Within. My life changed, and I began to understand what "you have to have it in order to give it away" meant. The awakened spirit is propelled from deep within me, a place that for years I was unwilling or unable to reach. I now know that the highest height a recovering alcoholic can achieve is to share his/her experience, strength and hope through an awakened spirit with another suffering alcoholic. That, I believe, is the ultimate message and gift of recovery from a hopeless state of mind and body.
ReplyDeleteMichael To help someone achieve real recovery and not just not drink takes an experience with God that releases the power to help others as a result of that experience...Thanks...Armand.
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ReplyDeleteI do believe i am at a point of recovery from a helpless mind and body. I am on my 4th sponsor and the 4th time I am going through this book of recovery. I believe I am at a breaking point of giving my will up and praying for god to control my actions. I am not having as much trouble with physically drinking, having 4 months of sobriety. The hardest aspect to me this time around, is understanding god is either everything or he is nothing. If i do not trust in God with all my affairs and constantly pray for his will to be carried out. I am doomed to drink and wonder this world alone and full of self centered fear.
ReplyDeletePaul You certainly understand the problem and the solution unfortunately understanding of it is not enough. Integrate the program ( 12 Steps ) into your life in such a way that they become your life and the conflict you suffer now will be healed...Thank you...Armand
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