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It is through all our experience with our character defects that we've realized and recognized, set boundaries and applied cognitive therapy and behavioral modification but all to no avail - using these methods is like applying a band aid to a festering sore. What we really must do is get to the root of the problem. Our character defects exist in our human nature, not in the will of God. Therefore, if we are willing to perform the work necessary for the Spirit to be awakened within us by living in the back half of The Eleventh Step, "Praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out" (Alcoholics Anonymous) , our character defects will not and cannot possibly manifest in our behaviors. The power to carry out such knowledge must come from God, as our human nature will only try to sustain our selfish desires. Once we have taken this step we have pulled the root of the problem from it's poisonous soils.
Sunday, September 13, 2020
The Root Of The Probblem
Some of us have learned through our experiences that we must do this - turn from our human nature and live in the will of God - if our character defects are not to exist in our behavior. Many of us have not. In Alcoholics Anonymous it is often said, "Let go and let God." The "let go" part is in the letting go of our thought process propelled by our human instincts. The "let God" part is thereafter, in which we surrender to the idea that God will propel our thought process through His inspiration. Inspiration is defined as "the thoughts of God implanted in the mind and soul of man." When this transformation of thought has occurred, the root of the problem has truly been healed.
Written by Armand
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"If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us would have recovered long ago." -- Alcoholics Anonymous pp. 44-45. As you point out, if cognitive therapy, encounter therapy, group therapy, setting boudaries, "The Secret" or any of the other self-help books I read could have fixed me, I would have been fixed. It was only when I began working the program of AA that I began to heal. Not just from alcohol and drugs but from my real problem-- me. My flawed "self." AA provided the needed power because it is not a self-help program, it is a God-help program.
ReplyDeleteDan self help can't help when the problem is self...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteI was born loving and caring. It was somewhere in my early development that fear and doubt became the destructive outcome of my experience. Nothing that anyone could tell or teach me would prevent me from going my own way in all matters, not just spiritual. Thus, I hit alcohol; thus, I hit bottom. The root of the problem could not be detected or affected without a vital spiritual experience. That came about for me through the process of integrating all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that my will was relinquished in favor of the Will of The Power Within me. That Power (flimsy at first) is the root of the safety of all my present activities and consequent behavior. The Solution!
ReplyDeleteMichael loved when you wrote "my will was relinquished." An absolute necessity if one is to recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body...Thank you...Armand
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ReplyDeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” It is no coincidence that the Hebrew words of this challenge to be still translate into the idea of letting up…letting go... The root of the problem is, was and always will be my unwillingness to answer the clear clarion call of God. This is the universal struggle even the most immature mind can comprehend for God's call is unmistakable. His will for the day is always above my understanding and always requires His power to accomplish. He never reveals the end from the beginning for therein is the opportunity for real faith to be manifest for that day’s lesson plan. If I am obedient in the moment and not fear that the “ imagined instant consequences" of my decisions may result in the fear of "perceived loss" of what lies ahead in the unseen future, I will discover the blessing He has in store, deepen my faith and experience the true joy and freedom in life that can be apprehended in no other way.
Living this life on the surface of the pond is an empty, shallow, false flag adventure at best. A finite illusion of the infinite reality that can only be experienced when I surrender to the True Guide and Lover of my soul. Having been dashed on the rocks too many times to count I have abandoned my swim up the waterfall... For by His grace, mercy, patience and love I am discovering the only Fountain of Life that leads to the ocean of love that is the essence of His being. I am convinced that all of His creation has just one purpose, Luke 10:27 "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” God provides the perfect environment for all those created in His image to discover Him as He truly is and to spend not only this life but all of eternity in His unspeakably glorious presence, if only we let go and become willing to do so...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic