We’ll try to sell you on this…
From the Original Manuscript;
Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after, have been designed to sell you three pertinent ideas:
(a) That you are alcoholic and cannot manage your own life.
(b) That probably no human power can relieve your alcoholism.
(c) That God can and will.
If you are not convinced on these vital issues, you ought to re-read the book to this point or else throw it away!
That’s right – if you’re unconvinced, throw the book away! And we should practice stroking feathers in recovery? I doubt …read more

I was just introduced to this resource today. It is not free and I am not an affiliate but it certainly seems as if it could be worthwhile to many. Therefore;
The Little Big Book Dictionary
“Made EXPRESSLY for use with “The Big Book” of A.A. Definitions do not necessarily translate for use with ‘The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions’ book of A.A.
The Little Big Book Dictionary includes over 2,200 of the most difficult words, terms, and phrases found in The ‘Big Book’ of Alcoholics Anonymous. Providing text referenced definitions, simple phonic pronunciation guides, and page numbers for the included words. …read more

See this from yesterday;
“If his arrangements would only stay put, if only people would do as he wished, the show would be great. Everybody, including himself, would be pleased. Life would be wonderful.”
Then, when the show doesn’t please the alcoholic mind “What Usually Happens?”
“He begins to think life doesn’t treat him very well. He decides to exert himself more. He becomes, on the next occasion, still more demanding or gracious, as the case may be.”
And the family will have to use their “computer eyes” to decipher what to expect – demanding or gracious, probably knowing intuitively that in some manner …read more

Taking the queue from today’s Daily Reflection – “The Limits of Self-Reliance” which leads us to page 68 in the BB;
“We reviewed our fears thoroughly. We put them on paper, even though we had no resentment in connection with them. We asked ourselves why we had them. Wasn’t it because self-reliance failed us?”
I had been taught, by those who did not know, that if I wanted something done right, I had to do it myself. Little did they realize I had no clue how to do things right! But I did it again and again…
“Self-reliance was good as far as …read more

Now on page 567;
II – Spiritual Experience
“The terms ’spiritual experience’ and ’spiritual awakening’ are used many times in this book which upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms.”

My best friend and I were having a discussion about recovery yesterday (which we do on a daily basis). Lonnie has 11 years and is in the phase where some things he witnesses exasperate him. Understandable, to me. In this specific instance, I’ve seen it now for years. It has become “normal” to have the …read more

The Third Step Prayer
from page 63 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
God, I offer myself to Thee-
To build with me
and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self,
that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties,
that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power,
Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!
Copyright © Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

I’ve been debating with myself (ever hear anyone other than an alky do that? LOL) whether to tell you what page in the Big Book this is on. I’ve decided not to… think you can find it? Fourth Edition.
“I finally began to separate the religious aspects of my life from A.A.’s spiritual program. Now the big difference to me is that religion is the ritual, and we all differ there, and spirituality is the way we feel about what we do. It’s about my personal contact with my personal Higher Power, as I understand Him.”
A Sober, Clean Day To All
Mark