The Twelfth Step Can't Give Away That which You don't Have
The 12th Step of Alcoholics Anonymous is, "Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs." This step clearly places a responsibility upon us, as sponsors - but we cannot give away that which we don't have. The "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous states, "We have recovered and been given the power to help others." The power to help others is a direct result of the spiritual awakening received in Step Twelve. Until one such spiritual awakening has occurred it is impossible for it to occur in other alcoholics that we may be helping. Furthermore, once the Spirit has been awakened within us we cannot be in the will of God without helping others. Both in and out of the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous.We are gifted the power to carry the message to other alcoholics not only through our words but by incorporating the principles of the Alcoholics Anonymous program (the Twelve Steps) right into our lives, displaying them through our behavior. Once the spirit has been awakened in those we help then they themselves can lead a recovered life. These recovered alcoholics will then have the power to help others in the way necessary, so that still others may recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. Your gift can be a gift to others.
Written by Armand
Having been raised in a culture where getting was the ultimate reward, I've learned through the program of recovery that it is not, however, the ultimate feeling. Although my nature is present in two components - human and divine - they can peacefully co-exist only when my life is being guided by my spirit through The Power Within me. Through that process and as a result of it, I have found something deep down within me which yearns to be given away. I know today that it is my spirit that fulfills me and renders me whole. By integrating The Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they have become my life, I have been given the gift of a new level of consciousness and being. I no longer have to rely on my mind to determine the source of my peace. Instead, I can fully rely on The Power Within. As part of that transformation, I am free to give myself to others and, thereby, give myself to myself. I believe this is what Dr Jung meant when referring to the "spiritual thirst of our being for wholeness." The more I give, the more whole I become. The more I give, the more I receive.
ReplyDeletemichael love when you wrote "it is my Spirit that fulfills me and renders me whole." the purpose of the Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteI'm paraphrasing, "To much is given, much is expected. To whom more is given, more is expected." (Luke 12:48) That sums it up for me from the grace I have received in this life. Grace I did not earn, but was given freely to me. Now from this position of gratitude I am responsible to pay forward this way of living to other alcoholics and any other non alcoholics that are put in my path. I have no choice in this responsibility IF I wish to continue to grow and developed my spiritual life. Yes, I must be obedient to this commitment. Obedient is not a very popular term in today's time. But if we believe this life is temporary and that success is not determined by the standard the material world, we feel the urgency to get into the 12th Step service as fast and often as God wants us to run. Time is the most precious resource we have so we must make the most of it. But we also must be prepared to serve. The Big Book gives us all the instruction we need so I must commit to improving my language and skills in serving others. I do that by positioning myself around other men and women who hold the same AA values and principles and who I learn from. Thank you all for the companionship on this ride together.
ReplyDeleteArmand
ReplyDeleteOne of the greatest blessings received and fondest memories recalled is to have been present when you first came to believe that God Himself is the ultimate author of the 12 steps of AA and then bear witness as you surrendered every aspect of your life as you then understood it and received Jesus into your heart. Spiritually, it was then that you received the Gift to confidently confirm to others that the yearnings of every heart consumed by desperation, fear and trepidation can only be satisfied by a true spiritual conversion. The Gift you received to fully apprehend God's revelation, that He personally and continuously reaches out to each and every one of His errant children with a fiery passion and boundless love, no matter how far we have strayed from His Light, opened the door to the ultimate and ongoing Gift and revelation that He desires that all be joint "sponsor's" of that plan. That is, evangelists...
A true evangelists always points to the True Source of their resurrected lives and it is that resurrected life that draws others to inquire of The True Source. The AA Big Book, clearly taken from the Bible, tells us "that one is God" and I would humbly add, God alone. God did not create us with with a hidden source of divine power that was there all along only waiting to be discovered by our own or others fumblinging and futile efforts at pealing away the layers of our nature. God created us with an emptiness in our spirit that only He can fill and the longing for His Presence that alone will finally complete us. He never forces Himself upon anyone. He created us all as unique and deeply loved individuals with a free will to either accept or reject Him. If we are truly honest with ourselves we will admit that we consistently rejected His loving overtures for fear of loosing what we think we have or never getting what we think we want.
The Big Book also tells us that, alcohol aside, the only thing standing in the way of redemption way is our grandiose and totally selfish and self serving human nature, that until He is invited in, inhabits the very core of our being. A nature whose best efforts have birthed the desperation that ultimately brought us into the rooms of AA. And that in order to know the "peace which surpasses all understanding" we must surrender our will and our lives to God as we understand Him. The beginning of that surrender is to finally acknowledge to ourselves that we-are-not-God. That He is who He says He is and is eternally the only worthy recipient of that surrender we so desperately seek to avoid.
I often pass by the small stone chapel where you accepted the Lord and His unique ministry through you began. The doors were rarely if ever open and it was seldom if ever used, but that one day it was unlocked, warm and full of life. There truly are no coincidences. We were there by Divine appointment. Over time I watched as you took up His call with complete abandon. He has used your unique personality, talents, culture and experiences as an inspiration to a great many others desperately seeking the only true release from the seemingly inescapable internal prison of self through His outreach in the rooms of AA and beyond. That is why you were called. That is why we are all called.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic thank you for answeing the call by being present with me...Armand
DeleteEnjoy the ride. The way of life as outlined in the first 164 pages of the Big Book will bring you a new freedom and independence in this world as you grow in your spiritual life. As the 76ers say, "Trust the process".
ReplyDeleteJim when the Spirit is awakened within us we have the power to help others in the way that is necessary for them to recover...Thank you...Armand
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ReplyDeleteOne of the greatest blessings received and fondest memories recalled is to have been present when you first came to believe that God Himself is the ultimate author of the 12 steps of AA and then bear witness as you surrendered every aspect of your life as you then understood it and received Jesus into your heart. Spiritually, it was then that you received the Gift to confidently confirm to others that the yearnings of every heart consumed by desperation, fear and trepidation can only be satisfied by a true spiritual conversion. The Gift you received to fully apprehend God's revelation, that He personally and continuously reaches out to each and every one of His errant children with a fiery passion and boundless love, no matter how far we have strayed from His Light, opened the door to the ultimate and ongoing Gift and revelation that He desires that all be joint "sponsor's" of that plan. That is, evangelists...
A true evangelists always points to the True Source of their resurrected lives and it is that resurrected life that draws others to inquire of The True Source. The AA Big Book, clearly taken from the Bible, tells us "that one is God" and I would humbly add, God alone. God did not create us with with a hidden source of divine power that was there all along only waiting to be discovered by our own or others fumblinging and futile efforts at pealing away the layers of our nature. God created us with an emptiness in our spirit that only He can fill and the longing for His Presence that alone will finally complete us. He never forces Himself upon anyone. He created us all as unique and deeply loved individuals with a free will to either accept or reject Him. If we are truly honest with ourselves we will admit that we consistently rejected His loving overtures for fear of loosing what we think we have or never getting what we think we want.
The Big Book also tells us that, alcohol aside, the only thing standing in the way of redemption way is our grandiose and totally selfish and self serving human nature, that until He is invited in, inhabits the very core of our being. A nature whose best efforts have birthed the desperation that ultimately brought us into the rooms of AA. And that in order to know the "peace which surpasses all understanding" we must surrender our will and our lives to God as we understand Him. The beginning of that surrender is to finally acknowledge to ourselves that we-are-not-God. That He is who He says He is and is eternally the only worthy recipient of that surrender we so desperately seek to avoid.
I often pass by the small stone chapel where you accepted the Lord and His unique ministry through you began. The doors were rarely if ever open and it was seldom if ever used, but that one day it was unlocked, warm and full of life. There truly are no coincidences. We were there by Divine appointment. Over time I watched as you took up His call with complete abandon. He has used your unique personality, talents, culture and experiences as an inspiration to a great many others desperately seeking the only true release from the seemingly inescapable internal prison of self through His outreach in the rooms of AA and beyond. That is why you were called. That is why we are all called.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
I love the way you describe the awakened spirit that can be awakened in others. I saw this in the person who passed the message on to me and I was so fortunate to meet her. She said I could do the same for others one day. Nothing is ever wasted and we don’t know where the seed of recovery may be planted or how it might grow but it’s not usually the way I think it should be, God works that one out. In order to pass this on I have to work the 12 steps and as a result I can do this if my own house is in order. It works, it really does.
ReplyDeleteAnne an awakened life is a Real life. Happy that you are living it...Thanks...Armand
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