Alcoholics Anonymous states, "the idea that somehow, someday, the alcoholic will control their drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it to the gates of insanity and death. We learned, some of us through relapse, that we had to fully concede to our innermost self that we are alcoholic...The delusion that we are like other people has to be smashed."We learn through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous that we must admit powerlessness over alcohol and that our lives are unmanageable. We must concede to our innermost self that we are alcoholic and, yes, we must admit complete defeat. Once we have done this we have THE FOUNDATION FOR PROGRESS, in the actual program of Alcoholics Anonymous, upon which we can build a real and honest life. This life of pure contribution allows us to be who we were created to be, thus restoring our self-esteem and allowing others to be themselves around us without any judgement on our part. Our real and honest life will be ours to live, measured in and by the love we give away.
Written By Armand
Armand thanks so much for sharing "The Foundation of Progress"
ReplyDeleteHow I love "How it works", "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest."
Up until the first moment I heard and actually digested those words, I had to admit I had no concept, let alone a true understanding of how to manifest that virtuous character trait to any degree in my life. After all, it was the absolute sense of certain impending doom that compelled me to first entertain a clear, deliberate though somewhat reluctant act of sanity by walking into the rooms of AA in the dim hope that I may somehow enjoy a period of release and a time of refreshment. Step 1 was the first encounter with this kind of scrupulous honesty, and truth be told, was birthed in the "mind and spirit" of a condemned man awaiting the gallows. As imperfect as my first acknowledgment was, it set the stage and sowed the seeds of a "willingness" that eventually grew into the reality of a true and expressed faith and relationship with the God of my understanding. Jesus Christ..
Through the years many attempts have been made to water down, or worse yet, embellish "the simple program of Alcoholics Anonymous" implying that there is some form of human pedagogy that can elicit a complete release from the prison of self. Yet, set before all who enter the Fellowship is a simple "program and testament" which history has confirmed solely relies upon the indisputable testimony of common folks who confirmed that their now well trodden path, found its origin and power in the very Word of God which brings about an expressed relationship with the Divine essence of His Being.
Although there are numerous passages I could refer to, one only need consider 2 Chronicles 7: 14-15 to fully comprehend the meat of this testimony. For contained therein is each and every one of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. For it is Written:14"if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place." Amazingly, nothing brings God greater joy than when one of his hopelessly errant children come into His fold and Luke 15: 7 clearly testifies to this "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." This alcoholic now thanks God every day that the one thing that I was obsessed with and was completely powerless over finally brought me to a place of desolation that offered no escape apart from reaching out to Him and gratefully discover that it was He who had been patiently reaching out to me all along...
A Grateful Recovering Alcoholic
A Grateful Recovering Alcoholic when I work with people on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous I look them in the eyes and I tell them that God can heal them as He can...Thank you...Armand
DeleteGreat words! Thank you. Powerlessness. Not just in my alcoholism, but in all my affairs. The foundation of my road back from insanity begins with the admission I could not drink. Albeit one day at a time, as the way to rejoin the human race. The humility it took to admit powerlessness over my drinking began with decades of humiliation stemming from my alcoholic drinking. But that was only the beginning of the admission of my powerlessness. Admission over my drinking was the break in the damn it took for me to realize alcohol was only a symptom of my real problem: fear propelled by my lack of humility. The virtue of humility is the foundation of all subsequent virtues. I need to whittle away at my ego by deconstructing all the attempts to "protect" my dignity in the eyes of the world. With God's grace and will, I have the great opportunity to experience heaven on earth.
ReplyDeleteJim humility is the key that unlocks the door to the grace of God...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThrough the program of recovery I've learned that when I conceded my alcoholism to my innermost self, it was the first time I was aware that I actually had an innermost self. Yes, down deep inside I possessed the fundamental idea of a Higher Power but it was a mystery to me, especially since my religious upbringing was further confounding. As you write, in AA, I began to make progress. It simply just wasn't enough. I had to incorporate The Steps into my life in order to find my life and to develop a foundation for me. Foundationless I would have continued to live in fear relying on my human nature to bear the burden of me. Instead, through The Power Within me, I walk steadily and safely through life - unafraid of you, unafraid of me. I am far from being alone.
ReplyDeleteMichael C
Michael the inner most self is where a recovered alcoholic lives...Thank you...Armand
Delete