Step 2

gonee · MIP Old Timer

Step 2

mikef · MIP Old Timer

May God's grace and mercy keep you strong in the continued endeavors of your group to carry the message of our 5th tradition and 12th step to the still sick and suffering!Have a blessed and productive day!!

LinBaba · MIP Old Timer

gonee wrote:

Many of the AA's today are still on step2. They acknowledge the existence of a higher power, like the AA group but never seemed to grow from there. The early AA's were men and women of great spiritual stature because they worked the steps. Many AA groups have taken things to the extreme, where even the lords prayer is not permitted. No wonder we have such a pathetic recovery rate. Newcomers to AA are keep relapsing and nobody seems to care. A simple sponsorship ethic with these people will save them years of misery. I sponsor between 50 to 100 people at any given time. It's not difficult. We workshop the steps and then go away for a weekend to do the 5th step. The last 22 years I have managed to get my sponsees to do the same thing and now we have a series of these workshops and retreats. Our percentage of recovery is closer to the figure achieved by AA when it first started in 1935. We have even extended our hand to drug addicts and many of them have also attained great success.
WE NEED TO GET BACK TO BASICS. Basic not meaning unsophsticated but reallity of what we used to do.

Couldn't agree more

Bill stumbled across a formula by non-alcoholics that literally remaps the brain so alcohol is no longer needed in order to navigate life, it requires action, and it requires work, it requires writing, it requires OVERCOMING your fears, and you have a personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism, and Bill and the groups came up with the idea of meetings to share these ideas with other alcoholics

Over the last 30 or so years because of the influx of the treatment industry sending prospects to AA where group therapy is part of treatment, meetings have "become" AA, where folks go for a quick fix to go "talk about their day", Don't get me wrong, group therapy is incredibly beneficial, as are ideas like 90 in 90 (since scientists have proved it takes 90 days to break a habit) but why do the work when you can just go to a meeting and that is now mistaken as "The Program" when in fact meetings were never meant to be anything other then where alcoholics could go to learn about the program, and to find sober alcoholics that HAD worked it to show them how, then we have groups of "dry"' alcoholics addicted to meetings relying on a human power (meetings) that can't figure out why they are still miserable even IF they are able to not drink for awhile, they can't figure out why they are still troubled by "The Bedevilments", of which the answer lies in the steps, not going to meetings and whining about your day

We see all these people who don't work step 12 or learn the Traditions then bewail the state of AA, who don't sponsor others or work the steps and can't figure out why they are all wrapped up in "self" me me me I I I

I was asked:

Are you prepared to go to any lengths?

What does that mean to you when you said that?

Did you mean it?

To me the choice was simple

ONLY 31 PAGES LATER THE BEDEVILMENTS
ARE REPLACED BY THE PROMISES

THE BEDEVILMENTS (page 52)

THE PROMISES (page 83)
We were having trouble with personal relationships.

We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away.
We couldn't control our emotional natures. We will comprehend the word serenity and we know peace.
We were a prey to misery and depression. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
We couldn't make a living. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We had a feeling of uselessness. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We were full of fear. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We were unhappy. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We couldn't seem to be of real help to other people. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how your experience can benefit others. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
And, most of all, We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

[ http://www.thejaywalker.com ]
Always love what you have to say Gonee

-- Edited by LinBaba on Friday 15th of October 2010 09:32:14 AM

Dave Harm · Senior Member

The basics to me... with Step Two is God, Higher Power and nothing more.

This I base on my own experience... not on my opinion. I was sober for over five years and slipped... and I did everything I was suppose to do. I practiced the 12 Steps and I still slipped. I went to AA meetings everyday, sometimes twice a day and I still slipped. I sponsored people and kept in close contact and I still slipped. I talked to my sponsor once a week and still slipped.

What was missing? A Higher Power... plain and simple... after that connection the rest fell into place.

Only the 1st step mentions alcohol... the other 11 mention me with my Higher Power, me with my fellows, and me with myself. It was no more about the alcohol after the first step it was learning to live without alcohol and most importantly for me learning to live with a Higher Power.

Again, not my opinion... just my experience...

SteveP · MIP Old Timer

Wish that there was some means of giving a truck-sized thumbs up to this thread. Great topic and hugely powerful -- and important -- sharing.

Thanks all

Steve

turninggrey · MIP Old Timer

Gonee, thank you for posting this.

angelov8 · MIP Old Timer

I absolutely agree in the power and importance of step two and maintaining a connection to God as I understand him. I do feel I have to mention that some groups in my area say the Lord's Prayer and some do not. My understanding is that the groups who do not have taken a group conscience and have chosen other prayers to end meetings with following in the spirit of Tradition Four. I don't feel that this is taking recovery to extremes as the same groups that I am familiar with emphasize the steps and traditions regardless. To me the steps and traditions are the essence of AA and what has kept the program alive and effective.

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

I really love what you wrote Gonee. People do need to keep nurturing their spiritual growth. I do think that is more of a step 11 process than step 2. I think a higher power such as the rooms works well in the beginning and it's better than trying to force a belief that just isn't there. It took me a bit of time (still working on it) in recovery to see miracles and good things in my life. From there I was able to believe in God more. That is why the step says "Came to believe...." It does not say "Came into the program already believing..." Anyhow, you are very right that spirituality needs to evolve and strengthen in order for the program to work for anyone.

I think your idea of sponsoring 50 people so they get the steps done is good...BUT, just based on my experience, I would never ever ever give up the 1 on 1 relationship with my sponsor. I know a sponsor is supposed to be your guide to help you through the steps, but mine has been so much more. He is the person I learn from, the person I observe, and he has qualities I want. I would not be able to learn from him like I do if it were just me and 49 others doing step work with him. With that said, your method of sponsoring has merit and is WAY WAY better than people not getting to work on the steps at all. Keep trucking Gonee. You do great work and I admire your faith.

Mark