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 it.

This is what we need to get straight;

This is the how and why of it. First of all, quit playing God yourself. It doesn’t work. Next, decide that hereafter in this drama of life, God is going to be your Director. He is the Principal; you are to be His agent. He is the Father, and you are His child. Get that simple relationship straight. Most good ideas are simple and this concept is to be the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which you will pass to freedom.

When you sincerely take such a position, all sorts of remarkable things follow. You have a new Employer. Being all powerful, He must necessarily provide what you need, if you keep close to Him and perform His work well. Established on such a footing you become less and less interested in yourself, your little plans and designs. More and more you become interested in seeing what you can contribute to life. As you feel new power flow in, as you enjoy peace of mind, as you discover you can face life successfully, as you become conscious of His presence, you begin to lose your fear of today, tomorrow, or the hereafter. You will have been reborn.

Post from: Blisstree

If You’re Not Convinced

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. Sized to fit in the back of your Big Book. Includes many program ‘topical’ words. Designed for elementary to advanced education levels. In most cases the first definition provided can be used as a simplified substitute for the word in question while maintaining proper sentence structure and intent.”

Please let us know what you think…

Post from: Blisstree

The Little Big Book Dictionary

“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 they’re being manipulated. They certainly know that none of this feels right or good.

“Still the play does not suit him. Admitting he may be somewhat at fault, he is sure that other people are more to blame. He becomes angry, indignant, self-pitying. What is his basic trouble?

The Big Book has a perfect answer but I think, because the oldtimers taught me this, that this is where “His Majesty the Baby” appears. Think about it. When an infant throws a tantrum aren’t they angry, indignant and self-pitying? Stomping their feet, screaming louder and louder, etc. That is, until they get their way…

“Is he not really a self-seeker even when trying to be kind? Is he not a victim of the delusion that he can wrest satisfaction and happiness out of this world if he only manages well? Is it not evident to all the rest of the players that these are the things he wants?”

Which, now thankfully, begs the question – so what if he wants it? Who the he** is he?

“And do not his actions make each of them wish to retaliate, snatching all they can get out of the show? Is he not, even in his best moments, a producer of confusion rather than harmony?”

An alkie producing harmony? Wouldn’t that be the day…

“Our actor is self-centered – ego-centric, as people like to call it nowadays. He is like the retired businessman who lolls in the Florida sunshine in the winter complaining of the sad state of the nation; the minister who sighs over the sins of the twentieth century; politicians and reformers who are sure all would be Utopia if the rest of the world would only behave; the outlaw safecracker who thinks society has wronged him; and the alcoholic who has lost all and is locked up. Whatever our protestations, are not most of us concerned with ourselves, our resentments, or our self-pity?”

Anything ringing any bells for ya’?

Post from: Blisstree

Understanding The Alcoholic Mind – Really? [Touched By Motives]

“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 it went, but it didn’t go far enough. Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it didn’t fully solve the fear problem, or any other. When it made us cocky, it was worse.”

I must have been in a “black-out” that day… self-confidence?

“Perhaps there is a better way – we think so. For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely upon Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.”

Now – there’s something that can work for me! Peace in the eye of the storm? Yeah… Oh, you said humbly rely upon Him eh? Well – okay.

“We never apologize to anyone for depending upon our Creator. We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness. Paradoxically, it is the way of strength.”

I just had a thought – A.A. has brought me out of the depths of hell, saved my life and, no doubt, the lives of those who were around me. Yet there are those who wish AA would die? I don’t, we don’t, force you to stay nor do we attempt to force you to shut up. But I can tell you this without fear. God is for me and, if you’re not, you can KMA! (My, how spiritual lol)

“The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear.”

Wouldn’t you like to outgrow fear?

Now about sex… oh, sorry, you’ll have to refer to the book… then you’ll understand the title of this post.

Post from: Blisstree

Directly Prior To Sex

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 awareness that one of the best kept secrets in Alcoholics Anonymous is our Big Book. Folks simply don’t read it.

The challenge? These same folks bring their “intelligence” into the rooms of AA and spew that all over newcomers and oldtimers alike. Unfortunately what they are really doing is spreading their opinion, not the facts of recovery. When you’ve heard it over and over, it can become exasperating. Yet, it is normal in the sense that it is what we do! I did it too…

We brought up the Third Step at our meeting last night and I couldn’t help but wonder how all these folks, I mean all, had been able to take their Third Step and finish it! Oy Vey!!!

“Though it was not our intention to create such an impression, many alcoholics have nevertheless concluded that in order to recover they must acquire an immediate and overwhelming “God-consciousness” followed at once by a vast change in feeling and outlook.”

Thankfully, the book changes very little and this passage remains intact.

“Most of our experiences are what the psychologist William James calls the “educational variety” because they develop slowly over a period of time.”

It is my hope that the majority of the folks I heard last night stick around and learn through long term experience. It is also my hope that they crack open the damn book!!!

Post from: Blisstree

Spiritual Experience

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.

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The Third Step Prayer

“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

Post from: Blisstree

Higher Powers Are Personal