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.
Written by Armand
No question my spirit, alive at birth, was somehow deadened by something. Alcohol addiction was merely a symptom of the dead within me. Any attempt to revive my spirit was an exercise in futility bordering on fatality. Alcohol brought to me to my knees and, while there, through conceding to my innermost self that I was an alcoholic, the entrance to my spirit was unblocked and awakened. From that moment forward, I was inspired to incorporate all Twelve Steps into my life. However, it took a knowing sponsor to enable me to put that inspiration into action. In that salvific process, I found The Power Within me. The Genesis.
ReplyDeleteMichael loved when you write "conceding to my innermost self that I was alcoholic, The entrance to my spirit was unblocked and awakened." The journey to recovery begins in the first Step of Alcoholics Anonymous...Thank you...Armand
DeleteHere we find Roland Hazard experiencing recurring relapses. To be spiritually reborn, the Oxford Group advocated four practices: 1. The sharing of our sins and temptations with another Christian life given to God. 2. Surrender our life past, present and future, into God's keeping and direction. 3. Restitution to all whom we have wronged directly or indirectly. 4. Listening for God's guidance, and carrying it out.
ReplyDeleteSources tell us "The development of Alcoholics Anonymous, with its origins in the Oxford Groups, has a very distinct Judeo-Christian heritage. Indeed, the "Oxford Groups" were regarded as practicing first century Christianity. But the wisdom of the founding fathers in AA was shown when they penned the Third Step, "We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him." They understood the pervasive shame of being alcoholic, and they resented anyone else telling them they were sinners. They were quite capable of self-condemnation all by themselves, they didn't need any help from holier-than-thou hypocrites they had seen in the bars themselves."
The complete cleansing of guilt and shame and gift of the Holy Spirit that propels the deep change in mind, soul and spirit is the "repentance" spoken of in the Bible which Dr. Carl Jung described as a "vital spiritual experience."
Of the two greek words used to describe the english word repentance. The first word, Metamellomai, a noun which "denotes painful sorrow or remorseful regret and is, of itself, not sufficient to change life". Biblical scholar A. T. Robertson adds the comments that Judas had only sorrow and regret and “mere sorrow avails nothing unless it leads to change of mind and life".
It is the second greek word MetanoeĊ, the greek verb, describing a 180 degree change in direction involving the heart, the mind and the inner life. This is the "vital spiritual experience" of repentance spoken of in both Old and New Testament, declared by John the Baptist and confirmed by Jesus Christ Himself. It is of little matter whether we posses all the worlds riches or are dispossessed of all. We do not do it alone for we turn to a Person, receive a Person, and embrace a Person, who's name is Jesus Christ. And we do so with the strength that He gives us through the gift, presence and power of the Holy Spirit of God... What once appeared a myth is now an all encompassing reality and although there is a certain hardness about it His grace is sufficient... Once we reach out to Jesus and surrender to Him, there is a change, there is a purpose, there is a joy in life that no one can take away. It's been many years since this gratefully recovering alcoholic was propelled by inspiration on the heels of desperation to make that fateful first decision. Many I know have followed and are living proof of a Joy-Filled-Life. And that, as the poet once wrote, has made all the difference...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic