Many AA meetings begin with a reading from Chapter 5, “How It Works”, of the AA Big Book. In the introduction to this chapter, before the steps are outlined, one of the warnings provided is, “At some of these [steps] we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not.”
Some have a hard time grasping this concept of the easier softer way. We have spent our lives taking short cuts and dodging responsibility . Anything that would give a semblance of quiting our using was embraced and welcomed, but only if it was the easier than doing what everyone around us was telling us to do.
Some view that AA is the easier, softer way because the using life had become so exhausting. The amount of time, energy, physical and psychological effort that went into setting up, using and surviving the binges was taking a toll physically, mentally and spiritually.
In the addictive mine, that little voice screams for instant gratification......even in recovery. At the least little sign of it not working, we begin the search for another way. We reason to ourselves that there has to be another way to eliminate the pain and misery we are going through. We take the "J.G.Wentworth" approach to recovery......"IT'S MY SOBRIETY AND I WANT IT NOW!" While the idea is good, the reality leaves a lot to be desired. We didn't get this way over night and to think that we will change over night is unreasonable and not realistic.
Psalm 32:8 reads: The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." Now I know that some have a hard time of putting Scripture from the Bible together with the concept of A.A. and working a program of sobriety, but the reality is....our Higher Power, Jesus, will do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Either this stuff is real, or it's a bunch of hooey-balooey and we all need to give up and meet at Shoney's for Strawberry pie and coffee. What does the big book of A.A. say? "Rarely have we seen anyone fail who has thoroughly followed our path." Success comes with you not doing things your way, but following the simple path laid out before you in the Twelve Steps. Oh, let's get real honest here. The Twelve Steps never saved anyone. There isn't any magic voo-doo in the steps. It's the Higher Power that you run into that makes those steps turn into life.
Remember that when the Hebrews were at the Red Sea and the Egyptians were hard on their trail, God opened up the sea and gave them a way out. It was only a way out if you were with the group God had delivered. The Egyptians followed the same path, but wound up being drowned and destroyed. Both groups took the same path. Both groups, Hebrews and Egyptians, took the same way out. But only one was following directions given to them by their Higher Power. The others were moving in their own strength and power.
I know that if your just starting this journey to a new life, it is a fearful time.
You are overwhelmed with the fear of failure. You may have tried to quit a gazillion and times, and a gazillion times you failed. Fear tells you to not try. Fear tells you to don't attempt to change. That is a lie. Like the picture says up top..."FEAR IS A LIAR."
This is why it is so important for you to be connected to a community of people who are on this path also. They can be a real encouragement and support.
They can help you in the hard times as well as the good.
Stay on this path long enough and you'll find yourself helping others.
Take the first step today!
Step # 1
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol/drugs---- that our lives had become unmanageable.
God on you.....
mb
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