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
Thanks for sharing Armand,
ReplyDeleteNo 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. Expelled from our warm little cocoon we riot and scream. Patience and understanding are not in our vocabulary of emotions. 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 bum... If we are fortunate, our parents soon recognize the destructive destination of our fledgling self-will-run-riot and risk the immediate abandonment of our immature and needy affection to establish and encourage the healthy boundaries required to navigate successfully and joyfully through life. Then there are those of us who were raised by wolves but "they too can recover if they 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.
Thus, If we were fortunate we were introduced to the first taste of that unfathomable and divinely inspired act of sacrificial love in action that is the cornerstone for making lifes healthy choices. Yet, our "King Midas" mindset rebels at every turn. No!! is the first word uttered and delivered with laser like focus toward any suggested behavioral change that requires even the most modest act of self denial. The Devine Author sends messengers and models to intercede and remind us 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 excesses with self-deluded arguments and excuses. I became a blur of half truths and deflection while accumulating a seemingly insurmountable mountain of gilt and shame. Life became a desperate race for any elixir to numb the pain of a life with no meaning and a destination I was too terrified to contemplate. Alcohol became both vehicle and fuel for my afterburner fired journey into hell.
When all hope was lost, when death became the only other frighteningly attractive option left, an Unseen Hand pulled the lever on my ejection seat and in the rarest moment of sanity, recognizing it was Him, I cried out to the God I had ignored and abandoned for most of my life. In that very instant, in that very place, I discovered that like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz the "ruby slippers" had been available all along. I simply chose not to consider them. The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are in a very real sense the "ruby slippers" of a Loving God's personal invitation to that radical change in direction that finally brings us home. Today, I have no need to fear the future for I am convinced that He is more than able and faithful to complete the good work He has begun in all who humbly seek His face and 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 love when you wrote "no one is capable of willing away their own will." Simply said but powerful and true...Thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand, My opinion and I echo the opinion of Bill W - is that the alcoholic's only hope for long term sobriety is to FIND GOD. The Twelve Step Program is a Finding God Program. If you continue to circle through the steps until they become part of your DNA you will FIND GOD. Thanks for keeping the focus on God. John
ReplyDeleteJohn Thanks. Yes,In the back half of the 11th Step. we are praying for "knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry it out"...Armand
DeleteAnd for me, finding God was going through the first 164 pages of the Big Book with a sponsor, who also did the same. I believe we (my sponsor and myself) both found God in an unique and personal way, we both used the same processes of the 12 steps as outlined "precisely" in the Big Book. Simple but not easy. This is not a self help program. Like you said, you can't solve the problem with the problem. Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. By building and developing a relationship with God we can change what we believe, change our thinking and thereby changing our actions, thereby serving God and our fellow human beings.
ReplyDeleteJim a recovered alcoholic will place the needs of others ahead of their own...Thank you...Armand
DeleteMichael C.
ReplyDeleteLack of power, that was our dilemma. But, The Big Book asks, where and how shall we find this power? The Where problem is answered in the same chapter (Agnostics) on page 55. “He is deep down within us. That is the only place where He May be found. It is so with us.” The How problem is addressed in The Step Book on page 27. “To acquire it, stop fighting it and practice the remaining Steps of the AA program as enthusiastically as you can.” Powerless, it turns out, is the manifestation of my deeper problem - self-centered fear. By integrating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they have changed my life, I have found That Power Within me - The Fearless Power. The only and all the Power I now need or will ever need. The problem has been solved.
Michael as I have said countless times, a life lived in the will of God is a life worth living...Thank you...Armand
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