It’s NOT In The Book!

And you’re point is???

I’m happy to have been called a “Big Book Thumper.” I’m still happy to be referred to that way. I’m happy my friend Lonnie is often called that. Because it has become my experience that the answers are in the Book!

But – not all the answers… ut oh… sacreligious?

I’ll do whatever I can not to defile what I believe is one of the greatest assets we have – the collective experience of the oldtimers.

Think about it – even when the Traditions were adopted, the oldest oldtimer had what? Fifteen Years? Today, across the land, there are many with 30, 40, 50 years and even more. But today’s oldtimers didn’t write the Book. Relatively speaking, it was newcomers who wrote the Book! With little experience. That is why they said “We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us.”

Thank you folks, for being wise enough to understand we would all learn as we grow in sobriety.

Of course, from time to time I’m reminded, as my friend Mike P. from Long Island reminded me yesterday, that even some of the long-term oldtimers, crusty, crusty souls, hang on to and pass along wisdom that may have aged. For ex. – the “real” Big Book is only the first 164 pages. I have discovered, and made use of for sobriety, a great deal of information from the stories in both the Third and Fourth editions.

Lately though, I have had more than my share of folks who find it necessary to dispute and even mock the wisdom of sober folks who’ve died with 30 – 50 years sober. I believe it would be more sensible, considering your life is at stake, to give serious thought to these types of actions. Those who’ve maintained sobriety for that long had something! Something I don’t have yet, nor do you if you have 16 years, or 20, or 10, or two, or 7 months.

The wisdom of experience for 30, 40, 50 years!!! How dare I mock something like that. Oh, that’s right, I’m an egotistical, self-centered, inconsiderate alcoholic. I’m smart. So smart I’m in AA. Yeah – I get it…