The "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous says, "But what about the real alcoholic? He may start off as a moderate drinker; he may or may not become a continuous hard drinker; but at some stage of his drinking career he begins to lose all control of his liquor consumption, once he starts to drink. We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink... he reacts much like other men. We are equally positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system, something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any alcoholic will abundantly confirm this. These observations would be academic and pointless if the alcoholic never took the first drink thereby setting the terrible cycle in motion. Therefore, the main problem of the alcoholic centers in his mind, rather then in his body."
If the problem centers in our minds and we use our reasoning power in an attempt to solve our problem, than we are trying to solve our problem with our problem. This will never work, as many of our own experiences prove. We continued to drink alcoholically even though we knew we shouldn't and certainly did not want to. Lack of power - that is our dilemma. We must find a new source of power to propel our thoughts. Our thought process can no longer be propelled by our human instincts but rather by the will of God through inspiration.
Once we find that source of power - that is God. We have subrogated our thought process to His will and we are now at peace. Our prayer, at this and each moment, is that anyone who suffers from addiction, whether actively or not, may find God as the very chief source of their power.
Written by Armand
Written by Armand
The main problem was centered on my inability to know and feel my spirit, and my subsequent total reliance on my mind. I was living in a morass of weakness and confusion so I ordered a drink. Yes, it was virtually impossible to stop. Until, in one instant, my spirit overtook my mind and defined the problem with certainty and finality. I went to my first meeting as a result. The Spiritual Solution was in order, and I surrendered. Over the years, I've learned that my human nature, composed of my mind and my will, does not give way to my spirit without intervention of the greatest kind. I had to be awakened to the presence and love of The Power Within me through the miraculous interweaving of The Twelve Steps into my psyche and humanity. Order had to be restored so that I could be found. The greatest joy of my life, by far, is to give what I've found away. The solution is in The Spirit.
ReplyDeleteMichael In line with what you have commented a complete and absolute surrender of our thought process to the will of God is the solution to the main problem...Thanks...Armand
DeleteThis Is From A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
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We are indeed the main problem, for no one is capable of willing away their own will and truth be told, we are all from the moment of conception totally self willed creations by Devine design. We instinctively propel ourselves into full throttle fits of rage until our demands are met, our bellies are full and a freshly powered diaper is wrapped around our bottoms... If we are fortunate, our parents will avoid nurturing our fledgling self-will-run-riot, and establish and nurture the healthy boundaries and a spiritual relationship with God required to navigate successfully and joyfully through life. Then, there are those of us who by degrees, were raised by wolves.... But we too can recover if we have the capacity to be honest. Thankfully, most parents place our need for lovingly imposed corrective guidance ahead of their inward desire for our all too conditional acceptance and approval.
This divinely inspired act of sacrificial love is the cornerstone for making healthy life choices. No matter our parental guidance or lack thereof, The Devine Author of life provides messengers and models who's sole purpose is point the way to acceptance of His unrelenting desire to embrace us in the bosom of His unfathomable love. If only we are willing... But, I went my own way, made my own plans, executed them with fervor and justified my excess appetites with self-indulgent arguments backed by delusional excuses. All the while accumulating an insurmountable mountain of gilt and shame. Life finally became a desperate race for any elixir to numb the pain of a journey with no meaning and a future destination too terrifying to contemplate. Alcohol became both the vehicle and fuel for my afterburner fired journey into... Hell.
Yet, when all hope was lost, when death became the only frighteningly attractive option left, an Unseen Hand reached out from eternity and in the rarest moment of sanity, I cried out to that same God I had ignored and abandoned for most of my life. And; In that very instant, in that very place, I discovered that like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz the "ruby slippers" had been available all along. I simply chose to ignore them. The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are in a very real sense the "ruby slippers" of a Loving God's personal invitation to finally come home. Today, I have no need to fear the future nor regret the past for I am convinced that He is more than able and faithful to complete the good work He has begun in me and all who humbly seek His face, and by His power, practice His principles in all their affairs. Just one day at a time, every day of our lives, until we meet Him face to face.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic when an alcoholic and or addict has complete and utter trust in God, that alcoholic and or addict is graced with the presence of God in this moment. In that awareness there is no need or desire to look back in regret or to look forward in fear...Thank you so much...Armand
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