The "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous says, "But what about the real alcoholic? He may start off as a moderate drinker; he may or may not become a continuous hard drinker; but at some stage of his drinking career he begins to lose all control of his liquor consumption, once he starts to drink. We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink... he reacts much like other men. We are equally positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system, something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any alcoholic will abundantly confirm this. These observations would be academic and pointless if the alcoholic never took the first drink thereby setting the terrible cycle in motion. Therefore, the main problem of the alcoholic centers in his mind, rather then in his body."
If the problem centers in our minds and we use our reasoning power in an attempt to solve our problem, than we are trying to solve our problem with our problem. This will never work, as many of our own experiences prove. We continued to drink alcoholically even though we knew we shouldn't and certainly did not want to. Lack of power - that is our dilemma. We must find a new source of power to propel our thoughts. Our thought process can no longer be propelled by our human instincts but rather by the will of God through inspiration.
Once we find that source of power - that is God. We have subrogated our thought process to His will and we are now at peace. Our prayer, at this and each moment, is that anyone who suffers from addiction, whether actively or not, may find God as the very chief source of their power.
Written by Armand
Written by Armand
Because the problem centers in our minds, it is not possible to use our minds to define or even approximate the solution. The mind, while endlessly curious and busy, is limited. Therefore, it follows that the problem is limited by the limitations of the mind. The solution is the awareness of The Power Within me and within all of us. The solution is actually far less complicated than the problem. It's the process of transforming the problem into the solution that is the key. That process is only available by integrating all Twelve Steps into our lives in such a way that they become our lives. As the result of that process, the spirit is awakened, and then re-awakened more fully each day. The main problem, our limitations, is solved only by our limitlessness as expressed though our spirits. The mind cannot comprehend that nor should it try. It is, however, a vital spiritual experience.
ReplyDeleteMichael an inspired mind can only produce the fruits of God's grace...Thank you...Armand
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ReplyDeleteWe are indeed the main problem. For no one is capable of willing away their own will and truth be told, we are all from the moment of conception totally self willed creations by Devine design. We instinctively propel ourselves into full throttle fits of rage until our demands are met, our bellies are full and a freshly powered diaper is wrapped around our bottoms... If we are fortunate, our parents will avoid nurturing our fledgling self-will-run-riot, and establish and nurture healthy boundaries and that spiritual relationship with God required to navigate successfully and joyfully through life. Then, there are those of us who were raised by wolves or left abandoned. But we too can recover if we have the capacity to be honest. Thankfully, most parents place our need for lovingly imposed corrective guidance ahead of their inward desire for our all too conditional acceptance and approval.
This divinely inspired act of sacrificial love is the cornerstone for making healthy life choices. No matter our parental guidance or lack thereof, The Devine Author of life provides messengers and models who's sole purpose is point the way to acceptance of His unrelenting desire to embrace us in the bosom of His unfathomable love. If only we are willing... But, I went my own way, made my own plans, executed them with fervor and justified my excess appetites with self-indulgent arguments backed by delusional excuses. All the while accumulating an insurmountable mountain of gilt and shame. Life finally became a desperate race for any elixir to numb the pain of a journey with no meaning and a future destination too terrifying to contemplate. Alcohol became both the vehicle and fuel for my afterburner fired journey into... Hell.
Yet, when all hope was lost, when death became the only frighteningly attractive option left, an Unseen Hand reached out from eternity and in the rarest moment of sanity, I cried out to that same God I had ignored and abandoned for most of my life. And; In that very instant I discovered that like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz the "ruby slippers" had been available all along. I simply chose to ignore them. The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are in a very real sense the "ruby slippers" of a Loving God's personal invitation to finally come home. Today, I have no need to fear the future nor regret the past for I am convinced that He is more than able and faithful to complete the good work He has begun in me and all who humbly seek His face, and by His power, practice His principles in all their affairs. Just one day at a time, every day of our lives, until we meet Him face to face.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
a Gratefully recovering Alcoholic a life lived in the present in the will of negates the shame of the past and the fear of the future...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteThank you Armand and Michael. One of my favorite AA sayings is "yesterday's history and tomorrow's a mystery." My overly busy mind is a time traveler, constantly visiting both past and future, finding old traumas , fears and shame and projecting them ceaselessly onto tomorrow. All we really have is the Present, which is indeed a gift. Right Now, I'm okay. But I can't stay in the Now with my mind alone-- I need the aid of the Power I find through the 12 step program of recovery. When I rely on that Power, my busy mind quiets and I can see that "I've never had it so good." As the shortest but perhaps most important paragraph in the Book puts it, "It works-- it really does."
ReplyDeleteDan i believe this is your first comment. Welcome. It works it really does...Thank you...Armand
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