Because Liquor Was But A Symptom

The Big Book is clear and distinct. Following the Third Step, it says: “Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us. Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions.”

If you’re receiving the suggestion that you ought to take a step a year, or a month, or whatever, read that statement again. If you’re one of those who is offering that suggestion, you damn well ought to read that statement again! No, I agree, recovery is not a race. At the same time the oldtimers who shed their blood, sweat and tears to pass on to us what worked for them so we might achieve sobriety, ought to be given respect. If you want respect, do something respectful… respect our literature.

Step Four

“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”

The BB refers to a commercial inventory being a fact-finding and fact-facing process when it says “It is an effort to discover the truth about the stock-in-trade. One object is to disclose damaged or unsalable goods, to get rid of them promptly and without regret. If the owner of the business is to be successful, he cannot fool himself about values.”

Just a thought from me – you might want to note here that your “stuff” is unsalable to those who’ve been here before you because they had the same “stuff” once. You can’t bs a bs’er therefore, no sale and… no success. Can you translate “no success?”

Resentment

“From it stem all forms of spiritual disease.” “We have been spiritually sick.” “When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.”

Please consider that last sentence.

Grudge List

Self-esteem. Security. Ambitions. Personal relations. Sex Relations.

“We went back through our lives. Nothing counted but thoroughness and honesty.”

Urgent Attention!

“It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness.” Don’t we all really want to be happy?

“To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while.” I don’t know about you, but I got sick of wasting my life loooong ago.

“But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave.” Hope! Hope!! Yet how many of us will flip that coin and avoid this work?

“We found that it is fatal.” Resentment is fatal. “For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit.” I’m tired of living in the dark, even though I volunteered to put myself there.

“The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And, with us, to drink is to die.” Final. The End. No More Hope. Done.