Alcoholism is a UNIQUE DISEASE in that it is twofold. We have a physical allergy which ensures that each and every time we put alcohol into our system we will get sick, we will get drunk, we will get into all kinds of trouble. But, even more important than the physical allergy, we have a mental obsession which ensures that even though we don't want to drink, sooner or later our mind will tell us it's ok-we'll put the alcohol into our system, we'll trigger the physical allergy, and we'll get drunk again. As Dr Silkworth, the great Medical benefactor of AA suggests, the thought processes of the mind have to be transformed. The thought processes of the mind MUST undergo a physic change and this change is essential and must be complete. As Dr. Silkworth states, "on the other hand, and strange as this may seem-once a physic change has occurred the very same person who seemed doomed, who has so many problems they despaired of ever solving them, is easily able to control their desire for alcohol, the only effort being required is to follow a few simple rules."
The transformation of thought that is necessary to recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body occurs through the grace of God received by the practice of the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Having admitted complete defeat, having admitted to our innermost self that we are alcoholic, understanding that no human power could overcome our alcoholism, having begun to trust in God as the solution to our problems we were now at Step Three-as we decided to turn our will, which is our thoughts, and our life, which is our behavior, over to the care of God. I knelt down on my knees and prayed THE THIRD STEP PRAYER. "God I over myself to thee, to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt, relieve me of the bondage of self so that I may better do Thy will. Take away from me my difficulties so that victory over them will bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love and Thy Way of Life, may I do Thy will always."
A simple solution to a complicated and UNIQUE DISEASE.
Written By Armand
After great alcoholic pain, I was able to come to the conclusion in Steps 1 and 2 that I was powerless over alcohol, that I was "leading" an unmanageable life, and that I needed a Power Greater than myself by which to find a way to lead a new life in peace. Yes, my disease was and is unique as there is no known medical or mental treatment to combat it. It is only by this psychic change that I may be able to find and live under the guidance of The Power Within me. As you point out, once the awareness of that change is manifested in my spirit, a lifetime of agony and frustration can be tremendously diminished in a very short time. From that point onward, the incorporation of all Twelve Steps into my life has led me to a new level of consciousness and being. My thought life and my very existence as a human being have been touched by The Power Within me, and today I live as a very different person, the person I was born to be. A unique disease, a far more unique solution.
ReplyDeletemichael as Bill says 'simple but not easy. It meant destruction of self centeredness. We had to turn to the Light in all things."...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteThe solution is simple, but not easy. The turning over of my will is a life long commitment I made, which is unconditional. I had proven for decades that I could not fix my problem because the problem is me. Albert Einstein said you can't fix a problem with the same problem that created the problem in the first place, so it was only by the grace of God I somehow understood that I was no match for alcohol. The AA program showed me that alcohol was but a symptom of my real malady which is self centered fear. I am gripped in fear. However by developing a relationship with God I can receive help from the Creator of the universe. He wants to help me. I need to let him. So I've come to the point that I have identified the problem and identified the solution: 100% turning over my will to my Lord Jesus Christ. I now just need to listen and act!
ReplyDeleteJim unfortunaetly there is no middle of the road solution. God either is or He isn't. Either God is everything or He is nothing. What was our choice to be?...Thank you...Armand
DeleteHe is everything, he Creator of all both natural AND spiritual!
DeleteThanks Armand,
ReplyDeleteI just love Dr. Silkworth's testimony. As my high school football coach used to say, "Lets break this down and take a look at it." In my personal journey alcohol was the principal poison used to alter my one time near healthy psychic state in order to empower, then escape the consequences of my own self centered fear, pride and covetousness which exquisitely describes the motive force that propelled the every thought, word and action of a man who was absolutely inwardly convinced that the entire known universe was uniquely and exclusively created just for him.
Yet, a casual glance at the world at large confirms that these regrettable characteristics are not the exclusive estate of the Alcoholic mind. They are common to all of mankind and evidence our universally failed and fallen nature. Even the most sober minded and spiritual among us suffer the cravings of misdirected appetites from time to time and any denial of our true condition is the primal delusion that opens the door to a desperate journey down the highway to hell. It's a core spiritual state that cannot even be recognized let alone overcome without the Devine intervention followed by grace through faith. One of the greatest saints who ever lived wrote of this nearly 2000 years ago and I'll defer to the problem he identified and the solution he discovered. Romans 7: 14 - 24:
" We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
"So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
It was a forgone conclusion that even when I inwardly agreed that the course I would choose would ultimately lead to self destruction I would still "throw the dice" as my appetites demanded hoping for a better outcome, and that, my friend is insanity... Simple knowledge of my condition is of no avail until I fully accepted that I'm completely, utterly and constitutionally incapable of overcoming my own will and, any self powered effort in that direction was tantamount to placing a hair net over the space shuttle with the expectation of preventing the launch.
Any attempt at practicing these eternal principles, without acknowledging an absolute dependence upon the only source of Power capable of manifesting them in space and time may, for a brief period, produce a "white knuckle" form of "recovery", but none of the peace, assurance and serenity that is the immutable fabric of a life lived in the spiritual arms of the one and only Prince of Peace. There is only One who can enter a tomb to breathe life into the fetid state of a long dead soul or provide a Damascus Road meeting with the Author of Light. That one is God. May we all, by His grace, reach out and answer the call of the one true and living God who is longing to reunite with His child and is as close as the mention of His name...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Grateful Recovering Alcoholic So true that even though I know my behavior will lead to destruction i will still attempt to control my destiny as I partake in the behavior...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDelete