In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous it says, "We shall describe some of the states that precede a relapse into drinking, for obviously this is the crux of the problem. What sort of thinking dominates an alcoholic who repeats time after time the experiment of the first drink.....therefore the main problem of the alcoholic centers in the mind rather than in the body."
If our thought processes are propelled by the will of God rather than our human instincts we will not drink. Our character defects cannot manifest themselves in our behavior if we are in His will. Instead, our character has been perfected, as we are now the human being that God created us to be.
In THE FOURTH DIMENSION OF LIFE we become a human being that cares about others in such a genuine way. We become a human being that wants to help others. We think of other's needs before our own. In the Big Book it states, "Our very lives as ex-problem drinkers depends upon our constant thoughts of others and how we may help meet their needs."
We benefit in using all tools of recovery but, above all, we must turn from our human nature and live in the will of God. By doing so we will live a human life we could have only imagined we would. We will manifest THE FOURTH DIMENSION OF LIFE - a life free from the bondage of ourselves.
Written by Armand
As you've stated and I agree, the fourth dimension of my life is a life free of the bondage of me. The fourth dimension is weightless, energized, guilt-free, non-possessive, transcendent, and at peace. It is only in that inspired state that I can really "know" myself well enough to love myself in order to then give myself away - with no hesitation or doubt. In my experience, there is no escalator to the fourth dimension; it is a step-by-step transformation made possible by incorporating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way (action) that they have become my life. This is not to say that my human nature is going to disappear, far from it. It does mean that by living in accordance with the guiding force of The Power Within me, I can live an inspired existence regardless of my material circumstances. My movement toward the fourth dimension has not been an overnight or completely realized matter. As Step Ten says, it must continue for a lifetime. The vast difference is that this ultimate lifetime is not governend time, by space, or most importantly, by the ponderous limitations of my mind. The fourth dimension does not think and has no boundaries.
ReplyDeleteMichael love your depiction of the Fourth Dimension...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeletethank you .
ReplyDeleteI grew up and was educated in the natural world. It is all I saw and knew. I was introduced to the spiritual world through religion which focused its attention on the history of the bible which also took place in the natural world. But it was only through AA I became aware of the spiritual when I was asked to have a relationship with God, the creator of both the natural and spiritual. While I can have contact with God here in the natural world, to have a relationship with Him I needed to learn to live in the spiritual. My relationship with God here on earth is almost always through other people. My relationship with God typically takes place during my prayer and meditation (Step 11). I would be lying if I told you I do Step 11 well. But there are times when I make contact and the feeling is unbelievable. My favorite "go to" prayer is the Jesus Prayer. My sponsor introduced me the a form of meditation, which I continue today, the World Community of Christian Meditation. I cherish this discipline and have included it as part of my AA recovery. I have began to understand my religous beliefs by committing myself to the AA program as outlined in the Big Book. And I recovery, I have been experiencing the spiritual world in my quest to have a relationship with the Creator of both the spiritual and natural world. What a blessing! What grace!
ReplyDeleteJim thank you for sharing your experience with The Fourth Dimension of life...Armand
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ReplyDeleteEvery step is in the order it is for a reason and Step 11 is no exception. All are written in the form of a testimony, a collective deposition if you will, of the journey on the road less traveled by those who have gone before with a simple clarity seldom encountered in secular writings. For in A.A. I have learned to abandon every personal effort to "work" Step 11 as though it were a point on the "great check list of recovery" and simply surrender to His presence.
The journey itself is the destination. And through God's grace, a fervently desired resting place. It is; in its entirety, God's gift to everyone who is willing to embrace the immutable truth of His word and the undeniable Presence of His Person and began the moment I made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understood Him. Life, once a shallow shadowy series of lessons best forgotten is transformed into a never ending manifestation of joy and peace, as moment by moment He graciously provides the ultimate gift of His divine calling, that is, that my entire life becomes His prayer.
Yes, I am thoroughly convinced that the Creator of All continues to lovingly conform every aspect of my life into His personal prayer and vision for me as I fervently seek His still small voice, in the limitless fullness of His presence...
A Grateful Recovering Alcoholic
A Grateful Recovering Alcoholic thank you for keying on the fact that we need to abandon the working of Step 11 and surrendering to His presence...Armand
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