The importance of Step Three is that a decision is made (in fact it is a final choice) for our thought process to no longer be propelled by our human instincts (our self will) but rather by the will of God through inspiration. Inspiration is defined as, "the thoughts of God implanted in the mind and soul of man."The Third Step is, "We mad e a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him." In the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous in the chapter "How It Works" it states, "The first requirement (in taking the Third Step) is that we be convinced that any life run on self will can hardly be a success." As stated prior to this, "Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful. Without help it is to much for us. But there is One who has all power -that One is God. May you find Him now!" The chapter goes further in stating, "Selfishness - self-centerednes! That, we think, is the root of our troubles... So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self will run riot..." Self will is our thought process propelled by our human instincts. In the Big Book it says "above everything we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness and there seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid."
I learned in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous that we have three basic instincts, a social, sexual and security instinct. These instincts are God given and necessary for life but in us we can never get enough of what it is we think we need . The great psychiatrist Sigmund Freud defines an instinct as "a bodily need manifested in our thought process." It is there that our character defects exist - but these same defects, which will always exist to some extent in our human nature, cannot possibly be manifested in our behavior when our thought process is propelled by God's will, through inspiration.
Written By Armand
As Step's 1 & 2 imply, the initial catalyst for reaching out to the God of my understanding was absolute desperation in that I had exhausted every other known earthly option or avenue that would, or could, extricate me from the dilemma and consequences of a life lived to satisfy my every wayward desire. I had, for the most part, deliberately chosen to live a life in direct opposition to the known will of God whenever my unsated appetites beckoned. Finding myself, by my own design, on the precipice of an eternity in a continuous living hell I found myself finally forced to not only abandon my lifestyle but completely reject every ounce of control over life as I understood it as this new future in Gods hands and plan for me unfolded.
ReplyDeleteThere was no employment of my well honed negotiating skills. No shallow foxhole prayers, only to immediately fall back to my alcohol fueled journey into debauchery once the immediate crisis had passed. This time was different. This alcoholic knew it was an ignominious and eternal death or complete surrender. And as I later learned; that revelation, like a white hot lightning bolt that burst into the core of my being, was a gift from a Loving Father that had not, and will not ever give up on me. Nor, will he ever give up on anyone who earnestly makes that decision..
My entire life of rebellion was instantaneously revealed in space and time. Yet, immersed in that encounter with the God of all Eternity was an overwhelming Presence of love and compassion beyond telling. He wasn't asking for all that I was willing to surrender at that time, but the one thing I still wished to hold back... Yet, as Jesus lovingly beckoned, I finally, fatefully spiritually collapsed and surrendered the one thing that had always stood in the way of my redemption, me...
And as I later pored out my life at His feet in Step 5, all of the guilt and shame associated with my past was immediately washed away. I was, in the most profound sense reborn... From that point on following the Steps was assured. Not easy... but assured, and has, together with study and inspired implementation of His Word brought me into a time of refreshment and joy of living that is well beyond my wildest dreams. Even during this time of crisis brought on by the current global pandemic I have no real fear. Today, when life reveals some fear inducing perplexity, when the future seems ominous or unsecured, I harken back to that time many years ago when I first surrendered... And was accepted warts and all, by the Person of God through Jesus Christ who recalls to my mind our first encounter and the continuous lyric of that day; "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me... I was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see"..
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully recovering Alcoholic our malady is self centered fear. Our solution is a vital spiritual experience. Thank you for articulating it so well...armand
DeleteAs you point out, there must be a disconnect - a space - between our human instincts and our thoughts and actions. That critical space will never be filled by the same fear-based thinking that created it. Instead, it must be filled through Inspiration which you so beautifully and unmistakably define. In my experience, the only way to know and grow spiritually and, therefore become inspired, is precisely as you suggest. I must integrate all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they become my life. Through that process, I will have let go of my own thoughts and have had them replaced by the thoughts of The Power Within me. When that occurs, I know that I are free to walk the earth giving away that which has been so freely given to me.
ReplyDeleteMichael yes as you point out, we are given the power to help others...thank you...Armand
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