In 1930 a member of the Oxford Group and an alcoholic, Roland Hazzard, visited on more than one occasion with the noted psychiatrist Dr. Carl Jung. After Roland failed to cease drinking multiple times Dr. Jung gave to him the solution for alcoholism -- a vital spiritual experience. Spiritual defined as "of or pertaining to God" and vital as "life giving". We have to give life to our experience with God. This is accomplished by surrendering our nature to the will of God.
During what became a historic visit Dr Jung said to Roland, "You have the mind of a chronic alcoholic. I have never seen one single case recover where the state of mind existed to the extent that it does in you." Our friend felt as though the gates of hell had closed on him with a clang. He said to the doctor, "Is there no exception?" "Yes," replied the doctor, "there is. Exceptions to cases such as yours have been occurring since early times. Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics have had what are called vital spiritual experiences."
I recant these passages from the chapter There Is A Solution in the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous to make clear that we do know there is a solution to our alcoholism and that solution is indeed a vital spiritual experience. THE GENESIS of that life-giving experience is God. May you find him now.
If you are alcoholic or suffer from the disease of addiction and you wish to recover from the seemingly hopeless state of mind and body, surrender your will to the will of God and you will live in this solution to your alcoholism.
Written by Armand
In my experience, the highest height one can reach is to experience oneself through The Power Within us. To know and experience that my human nature is in conscious contact with That Power renders my spirit and, therefore, my energy awakened and vital. I am then in union with The Power Within me. To achieve this ultimate equilibrium, my commitment must be final and my behavior must be consistent with my superhuman nature - one day at a time. Fortunately, The Big Book tells us that "we need look no further for Utopia. We have it with us right here and now." Understanding The Power of that promise is only available to me by integrating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they become my life. Genesis. Utopia.
ReplyDeleteMichael. A challenge in our life turned into a Blessing in our life through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous...Thank uou... Armand
DeleteThank you Armand. Less well known but also fascinating is the letter Dr. Jung wrote to Bill many years later, where he elaborated on his experience with Roland. Jung wrote that "I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world, leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by a real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community. An ordinary man, not protected by an action from above and isolated in society cannot resist the power of evil, which is called very aptly the Devil." We don't usually talk out loud in AA about the "Devil" but all of us who have been caught in the grip of alcoholism and addiction can appreciate what Jung is saying... and be forever grateful for the Power which rescued us.
ReplyDeleteDan yes we have made poor choices in our lives but the answer for us as Alcoholics is not to make better choices. The solution for us is a vital spiritual experience...Thank you..Armand
DeleteRoland Hazard’s quest for a cure is vitally important..
ReplyDeleteHe met with Jung prior to ever joining the Oxford Group and although Jung
had witnessed transformation of the human psyche through a ”vital spiritual experience” his writings make clear it was an experience he never personally experienced. Jung was a pantheist and
specifically identified individual human life with the universe as a whole and did not recognize a distinct personal God. Roland then struck out t
o obtain the “vital spiritual experience” prescribed by Jung and be spiritually reborn.
This quest brought him to the doorway of the Oxford Group which advocated four practices:
1. The sharing of our sins and temptations with another Christian life given to God.
2. Surrender our life past, present and future, into God's keeping and direction.
3. Restitution to all whom we have wronged directly or indirectly.
4. Listening for God's guidance, and carrying it out.
Sources also tell us "The development of Alcoholics Anonymous, with its origins in the Oxford Groups, has a very distinct Judeo-Christian heritage. Indeed, the "Oxford Groups" were regarded as practicing first century Christianity.
12 Steps of AA distinct purpose is to guide us to a personal relationship with God who provides a complete cleansing of guilt and shame and the gift of the Holy Spirit that propels the deep change in mind, soul and spirit that is the "repentance" spoken of in the Bible which Dr. Carl Jung identified as a "vital spiritual ex
perience” in the lives of the chronic alcoholics he observed that no other earthly explanation could account for.
Of the two greek words used to describe the one english word repentance. The first word,
Metamellomai, is a noun which "denotes painful sorrow or remorseful regret and is, of itself, not sufficient to change life". Biblical scholar A. T. Robertson adds the comments that Judas had only sorrow and regret and “mere sorrow avails nothing unless it leads to change of mind and life".
It is the second greek word MetanoeĊ, a
verb, that describes
a 180 degree change in the heart, mind and the inner life or spirit that
encompasses the "vital spiritual experience" of repentance spoken of in the Old Testament, declared by John the Baptist and confirmed by Jesus Christ Himself in the
New Testament
.
We do not turn to a religious rule, precept, church building or congregation.
We turn to God as a Person, receive a Person, and embrace a Person, who's name as I’ve come to know is Jesus Christ. And we do so with the strength that He gives us through the gift, presence and power of the Holy Spirit of God…
What once appeared a myth is now an all encompassing reality and although there is a certain hardness about this new reality, His grace is sufficient... Once we reach out to Jesus and surrender to Him, there is a change, there is a purpose, there is a joy in life that no one can take away. It's been many years since this gratefully recovering alcoholic was
propelled by
inspiration on the heels of desperation to make
that fateful first decision
.
Many I know have followed and are living proof of a Joy-Filled-Life. And that, as the poet once wrote, has made all the difference...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic love when you wrote "Inspiration on the heels of desperation...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDelete