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
The main problem was personified and manifested in a me-who-was-lost. There is no question that the program of recovery within AA is the greatest and, perhaps, the only Lost and Found department in the world for alcoholic sufferers. As you point out, my thinking was the problem and my willpower was useless in helping or stopping me from self-centered destruction. Cutting to the chase, Inspiration was what I'd been searching for. I needed to be inspired to relegate my thoughts to another source. That Source became available to me when I made the final choice to do what the program of recovery asks of me and provides for me. I had to integrate all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that my life became truly mine and truly inspired. In the presence of The Power Within me, I am no longer powerless. Instead, I have been gifted with the inspiration to fulfill and live the life I was born to live. For the main problem and for all my problems, there is a solution.
ReplyDeleteMichael the source of our Power. That One is God, may you find Him now...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThanks for sharing Armand,
DeleteThe main problem is was and always had been threefold; Me, myself and I. I have gratefully discovered that the solution is, was and always will be similarly threefold. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.. When all hope was lost, when death became the only frighteningly attractive option left, Gods Unseen Hand pierced the envelope of eternity the instant I cried out to the same God I had ignored and abandoned for most of my adult life; and in that very instant, in that very place, I discovered that God had been mercifully available and waiting all along. I simply chose to reject Him…
The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are the extraordinary and undeserved outreach of a Loving God's personal invitation to embrace Him personally together with the radical change that finally brings us home. Today, I have no need to fear the future nor regret the past for I am now forgiven and 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