This season is the annual celebration of Christmas. This incredible story, mythical in its scope, has persisted for millennia, celebrated annually by millions. Christians around the world feel feelings of joy, happiness, and deep spiritual connectivity.
Millions of Christians believe the birth of Jesus is the beginning of a spiritual awakening. For these millions, the birth of God on earth was the first step of a process of redemption and, for them, a new life, a second life. And this new life is a life with God eternal. They feel redeemed and saved from a seemingly hopeless condition of original sin.
We who are in Twelve Step recovery have a great advantage; we celebrate these same thoughts, feelings, and deep spiritual connectivity daily. While the rest of the world is content with annual, we alcoholics insist on a much greater volume.
In our Twelve Step Recovery lives, Step One is the beginning of a spiritual awakening. With Step Two, we become consciously aware of a Power greater than ourselves and with Step Three, we turn our will and our lives over to this Power. The spiritual awakening has begun, and we are spiritually connected, feeling happy, joyous, and free.
The spiritual awakening continues and grows as we practice the principles of our Twelve Step Program. With the practice of these principles, we recover from our addictions and develop an ongoing and persistent “God consciousness.”
We experience redemption, and we are saved from a seemingly hopeless condition. It is a life with our Higher Power, as we have understood that Higher Power. And we celebrate these thoughts and feelings of spiritual connectivity every day of our new life.
We must, or we will die.
Churchgoers experience the thoughts and feelings of the Christmas season once a year. We, in recovery, experience the feelings and thoughts of Christmas every day.
We never drank annually; we drank daily, and being creatures of habit, we partake in daily celebrations instead of annual ones. We celebrate Christmas every day.
We, alcoholics, do everything to excess. Half measures avail us nothing.
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Hi Andy
Thanks for your emails. I really enjoy your perspectives on the program.
However I feel compelled to respond to your last email.
Just to set the stage I have been clean and sober for 44 years in AA. I have also been a Christian for around 40 years.
I believe that AA was never intended to be the final spiritual answer, that seems to be very clear in our literature.
Page 87 “Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer”.
Page 56 “Is it possible all the religious people I have known are wrong?”
Page 49 We who have travelled this dubious path, beg you to lay aside prejudice, even against organized religion. We have learned that whatever the human frailties of various faiths may be, those faiths have given purpose to millions.
You don’t have to dig very deep into AA history to find a symbiotic relationship between AA and Christianity. Starting with the Oxford group.and all throughout our literature.
In the book Dr Bob and the Good Oldtimers, Page 97 refers to the writing of the 12 steps. “We already had the basic ideas, though not in terse and tangible form. We got them…. as a result of studying the Good Book”. Dr Bob’s words
This historical fact is mostly ignored in modern day AA unfortunately. We look down on Christianity as something inferior to what we have in AA. I’m not sure when that started to seep in but such was not the case when I joined in 1978. There was a respect for the church and a respect for “men of the cloth”. AA does however offer me the fellowship of alcoholics that “get me” and for that I am incredibly grateful.
I heard it best said at a meeting. “AA got us out of the hell of alcoholism but it’s not designed to get us into heaven, only the God of the Bible can do that”. To those of us that are followers of Jesus that statement says it all.
Dr Bob knew the strength and impact that the Bible offered and he offered it as a solution over and over. Again I refer to Dr Bob and the Good Oldtimers. page 144
Then he asked, ‘Do you believe in God, young fella?’ (He always called me ‘young fella.’ When he called me Clarence, I knew I was in trouble.)
“What does that have to do with it?’
Everything,’ he said. “
‘I guess I do.
Guess, nothing! Either you do or you don’t.’
Yes, I do.’ “ ‘
That’s fine,’ Dr. Bob replied. ‘Now we’re getting someplace. All right, get out of bed and on your knees. We’re going to pray.’ “ ‘
I don’t know how to pray.’ “ ‘
I guess you don’t, but that’s all right. Just follow what I say, and that will do for now.’ “
I did what I was ordered to do,” Clarence said. “There was no suggestion.”
(Dr. Bob was always positive about his faith, Clarence said. If someone asked him a question about the program, his usual response was: “What does it say in the Good Book?” Suppose he was asked, “What’s all this ‘First Things First’?” Dr. Bob would be ready with the appropriate quotation: “‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. (this is Dr Bob quoting Mathew 6:33)
Last month you quoted the parable of the seeds from the words of Jesus in Luke chapter 8.. There is way more wisdom than that awaiting us in the Good Book.
In Jesus I have a living breathing God that is with me everyday, every step of the way.
I’ll end with this
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart
Lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him and
He will make you path straight
Book of Proverbs
Keep the insights coming Andy, I really appreciate them.
I hope that you don’t mind me posting your thoughts on the website, they were good and well worth sharing, and I surmised that others would be interested.
Your comments highlight the value of our Program, and the gratitude that some have for their disease and illness of addiction, for it is the disease and disquiet that drives us to a daily or hourly affirmation of our need for spiritual growth. As Bill Wilson says in the Big Book, “Thus I was convinced that God is concerned with us humans when we want Him enough.” That necessary condition is a blessing arising from our disease.
That drives us to “grow along spiritual lines” which may include a deepening of Christian faith. Bill and Bob, and many of the Founders were participants in the Christian faith, and those roots are clear in our Program life and Steps. So your observations are, as mentioned, sound. And they are important as well. And your comments evidence your faith and spiritual journey.
Bill and Bob strongly suggest that we AAs engage in faith practices. And for those who have adhered to that advice, we are the winners.
Thanks much for your thoughts. And in particular, the Proverbial reference at the end of the note. It is apposite to the point.
Blessings upon you.
Hey Andy
These are great messages you are putting out there!
Best regards,
Daco