In 1930 a member of the Oxford Group and an alcoholic, Roland
Hazzard, visited on more than one occasion with the noted
psychiatrist Dr. Carl Jung. After Roland failed to cease drinking
multiple times Dr. Jung gave to him the solution for alcoholism -- a vital
spiritual experience. Spiritual defined as "of or pertaining to God" and vital as "life giving". We have to give life to our experience with
God. This is accomplished by surrendering our nature to the will of
God.
During what became a historic visit Dr Jung said to
Roland, "You have the mind of a chronic alcoholic. I have never seen
one single case recover where the state of mind existed to the extent
that it does in you." Our friend felt as though the gates of hell had
closed on him with a clang. He said to the doctor, "Is there no
exception?" "Yes," replied the doctor, "there is. Exceptions to cases
such as yours have been occurring since early times. Here and there,
once in a while, alcoholics have had what are called vital spiritual
experiences."
I recant these
passages from the chapter There Is A Solution in the "Big
Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous to make clear that we do know there
is a solution to our alcoholism and that solution is indeed a vital
spiritual experience. THE GENESIS of
that life-giving experience is God. May you find him now.
If you are alcoholic or suffer from the disease of addiction and you
wish to recover from the seemingly hopeless state of mind and body,
surrender your will to the will of God and you will live in this
solution to your alcoholism.
Edited by Caitlin Alexandra
When I read the Roland Hazzard experience in The Big Book, I knew that a vital spiritual experience had not occurred in my life, even after many years in the program. I was blocked by a non-relationship with the God of my misunderstanding. That had to change. But how? For me, the answer was that I had to both fully understand The Twelve Steps and incorporate them into my life. There was no other way for my spirit to come alive in a way that my human nature couldn't dominate. This meant establishing a relationship with The Power Within me by becoming aware for the first time of That Presence within me. From that level of understanding, my spirit became awakened in a vital spiritual way and my effectiveness as a human being began to not only change but to transform. It is a new and beautiful life for me today. One I must give away in order to preserve and grow.
ReplyDeleteMichael Thank you for your experience. We all may have a different timeline on integrating the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous into our life but for all of us the destination of healing occurs when we surrender our human nature and live in the will of God...Armand
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