The program of Alcoholics Anonymous has in place the fabric necessary to weave through and heal our character defects - whether they surface in our daily or our spot check inventories. If and when necessary we use the Ninth Step which is, "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others." If we decide that an amend is necessary we immediately make it in an effort to live in the present. Only in the present can we be in the will of God, where His grace saves us from creating another past which we will need to extricate ourselves from. Once performed, we thread into the necessary fabric The Seventh Step, "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings." If our actions cause us to have any shame or guilt, we then use the Fifth Step of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, "Admitted to God, to ourselves and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs" so that we may be living in the present with a clean slate and a serene mind.
If we are willing to take our inventories, make our amends, ask God to remove our defects, and share our wrongs with ourselves, God and another human being there will be NO NEED TO CREATE A PAST. We will have the freedom to exist in the present - in the will of God.
As alcoholics we have worked hard to free ourselves from our past. If we are willing to weave the program of Alcoholics Anonymous into our lives in such a way that it becomes our life than the creation of a past that, at least subconsciously, is having a negative effect on our present consciousness, will not occur. This is a critical tool in permanent recovery.
Written By Armand
Written By Armand
Michael C.
ReplyDeleteThe pull of the past is a clear manifestation of my self-will, as there is nothing of value in my past except as it relates to my recovery. As you point out, all Twelve Steps form an integrated program of action whose purpose is to enable me to live in the present, in this moment, now. Of course, my fear-trained human nature is prone to wander off in disillusion. Thus, I must continue to “do the work,” to take the action that moves me from self-centeredness to thoughts of how I might help others. The very simple act of offering myself to another is a direct entree into the present and to The Power Within me - The Where and How and Who of all that I am. It is only in that presence that I am in the present.
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Michael helping others to find a relationship with God so that they may live in the present free of anxiety must occur if we are to live in God's will...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts from you both about the power of the present. The here and now is the only place I can find and do the will of God. But "time takes time" and in early sobriety the power of the past was always with me, and "morbid reflection" was a favorite pastime. It's only fairly recently, after eight years of sobriety, and after going through the Steps again in a more powerful way, that I have started to get enough distance to live in the now. And to realize that it was a different person who created that wreckage. Having had a personality change sufficient to recover from alcoholism, today I can live one day at a time in a spirit of service to God and my fellows.
ReplyDeleteDan anyone who says "time doesn't matter in AA" doesn't have any time. it takes time and experience to fully understand that one cannot recover in the way that is possible fueled by their own desire and nature...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteLiving in the past is different than learning from the past. In order to press the reject button on my past, I must learn from it so I can have a clear understanding of my nature and how my nature has confined my spiritual development. That is what Step 4 through 9 uncovered for me. Most important, AA has showed me how I can be born into the Spirit, which religion or education never addressed. AA was the "how" of introducing me and directing me through the metamorphosis I went through from a human being living in fear of my past and future, to becoming a spiritual being living in the will of God which can only be heard and realized by living in the present. "The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it." (pg 83) The steps you cover above teach us how to live in the present.
ReplyDeleteJim a life lived in the present graced by the will of God is a life that is fully alive and conscious...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteHaving long been miraculously delivered from a self centered prison of misdirected survival skills that found me at the precipice of an ignominious death, my bow has now been broken and the bent and featherless arrows that once filled my quiver were now willingly abandoned. Yet, even as I passed the pen to the Master Planner of life, the move from prisoner to pilgrim is not always without struggle. Life is not a consistent encounter with rainbows, pixie-dust and unicorns. I still must contend with the ever-present seductions of the world and although now graciously subdued, the ever present calling of the appetites of my flesh. But throughout every encounter His grace abounds. This new life is no longer totally dependent upon me. The eternal struggle is no longer encountered alone and the mystery for managing the transition has now been laid before me with a simple clarity that only comes through an ever expanding relationship with the only true source of Power, Light and Love.
ReplyDeleteThat divine gift of willingness, that first "grain of a mustard seed of faith," spoken of in Matthew 19-20; is no longer light years away but now grows by every encounter with life's former problems and perplexities into a deep and abiding faith. They become desired gifts from above as they reveal the only true touchstones of faith, love and compassion that grows an unyielding devotion to the Author and Finisher of this new journey into the unspeakable and eternal richness of the mind and plan of God.
The Author provides the Holy Spirit who now resides within me. He reminds me of the simple steps that first brought me to this place. He teaches that truth without love is pride and that love without truth is mere sentimentality. That the purpose of life and all of His creation is an eternal relationship by, with and through Him. When all around seems vexed and troubled. When confusion and conflict abound. He compels the surrender of every encounter within life's lesson plan and gently reminds it has been lovingly written into eternity, just for me, as I continue to discover Him as He truly is. Jesus is the touchstone to create a new and sanctified past that bears witness not only to the victory over sin and self, but an unmistakable legacy of service and love.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic love when you wrote " a simple clarity that only comes through an ever expanding relationship with the only source of Power, light and love." Events that my nature sees as complicated become easily navigated with the Spirit alive within...thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteThere are many physicist today that believe that time in fact is a man made entity. And that the only thing that exists anywhere in the universe is the present moment. If that’s true, there is no past. And the only past exists only in our minds. The problem for the alcoholic, along these lines, is that he does too much thinking about the past and future. Furthermore he generally recollects prior events with negativity, guilt, fear and loathing. Those things stir up some nasty emotions for us. And we then reach into our bag of character defects to deflect the unwanted feelings. And of course, it never ends WELL. Our only choice then is to live in the present moment which I firmly believe is God’s will for us. And the only place where we can feel His love for us. And His provision of abundance to us.
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Mike the back half of the 11th Step is, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry it out. it is only in the present in the will of God that an alcoholic has recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body...Thank you...Armand
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