In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous it says, "When we encountered A.A., the fallacy of our defiance was revealed. At no time had we asked what God's will was for us; instead we had been telling Him what it ought to be. No man, we saw, could believe in God and defy Him, too. Belief meant RELIANCE, NOT DEFIANCE. In A.A. we saw the fruits of this belief: men and women spared from alcohol's final catastrophe. We saw them meet and transcend their other pains and trials. We saw them calmly accept impossible situations, seeking neither to run nor to recriminate. This was not only faith; it was faith that worked under all conditions. We soon concluded that whatever price in humility we must pay, we would pay."Written by Armand
When we trust no one or anything, we defy everyone and everything. No question, that's my experience in being me. The rub is that I had only a relationship with me - a person I could not trust. That spiral eventually led to the pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization we all reach as alcoholics. Blame, excuse-making, shame, guilt, isolation, aloneness became the dried fruits of my unrich life. The transforming power of The Twelve Steps took me to a certainty that, at first, I only vaguely felt - that unsuspected inner resource that I can now clearly identify as The Power Within me. That Power to which I am gratefully awakened has enabled me to achieve a new level of consciousness and being. The way I think and the way I act is different, real. It is shared with me by The Power Within ME that I might share myself with others. By any definition, that is a rich, full life. A life of reliance, not defiance.
ReplyDeleteMichael you shared "that Power to which I am gratefully awakened has enabled me to achieve a new level of consciousness and being." I love that. You have become the human being that God created you to be. One with Him...Thank you so much....Armand
DeleteThis comment Is From A Recovery Alcoholic
ReplyDeleteWrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and but not least, gluttony. Each represents the essence of unrestrained human nature. All find their foundation in self worship, none can be abandoned by anything short of a miracle. This is the "fruit basket" I carried through the doors of AA and were it not for the crippling effects of overwhelming desperation I would never have crouched to enter through that low and narrow gate.
Truly, God Himself had been walking beside me all along, even during the most depraved events of my prodigal journey. Loving and reaching out past my every act of unwavering defiance. His only one desire for me? That I surrender to His unspeakable love, accept the price he paid for me and invite Him to dwell within my heart. The 12 Steps and fellowship of AA brought into crystal clarity the faith hope and charity that is the Eternal Author's gift freely offered to all who would receive it.
And having received Him I become a partaker of all His Presence provides; true love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Yes, just for today, I pray that I will more clearly see His Presence in this world, in circumstances, in people, in the new person He is creating in me and celebrate the new life He is creating in others! Lord, I want to start this day with a pure heart so that I will experience more of the wonder of Your grace and goodness.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic..
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
DeleteThe back half of the Eleventh Step is "praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry it out." In that moment we are healed...Thank you...Armand