Do not be discouraged. Life is a series of experiences, designed by God for His express purpose. In AA we choose to work the 12 steps- a series of spiritual experiences which culminate in the 12th step into a spiritual awakening. AA calls it a profound personality change. Some call it conversion. But for the alcoholic whose only hope is a spiritual experience, these steps are an absolute must.
Also, do not be threatened or intimidated if you don't understand God yet. A spiritual experience can start with something as simple as saying "I need help." From there you begin to listen, take suggestions, work the steps, and a wonderful transformation happens. For me, that is when I realized God was really there for me. It was a coming to believe process and it happened little by little. My life was too crappy and there was too much wreckage when I came into AA for me to think that God really was there for me. I had to make some right decisions, trust others who believed, and just stay sober in order to form a relationship with God that makes sense to me.
__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Good Topic. Hey PC, yes, I think the spiritual experience thing can be daunting for some because they think it needs to be a "Ben Hur" moment where Jesus brings you water and vice versa and then your Mother and Sister are healed of leprosy! (Can you tell I just watched the movie?) It does not happen that way for most of us and Jesus does not have to be your Higher Power. In truth, many english speaking alcoholics are not very Christian or spiritual. We spent years focusing on the party. I talked to a friend the other day who admits he is a functioning drunk and indicates he wants to stop but after researching the program, he is not sure if he can be spiritual. I do not like to be a salesman or a cheerleader for the program, I like to just sell it on its merits. That is what it is designed for. I told him that "the steps" build you emotionally and mentally to put faith to the test. I do not like to trick people into the program in the thought that eventually they will accept the Christian version of God. Don't get me wrong here--I am proudly Christian--now. I just found it through the no pressure growth in AA. I started with just what the program advertises. That there is something out there greater than myself. I really think that the topic of the thread makes me want to add that once you start growing spiritually, it never ends as long as you work at it. You start small with the call for help as PC says. Once you get on the journey, you will have ups and downs, but you will find that if you trust in your HP, He/She will never put too much on your plate and if you look hard enough, there will always be a door open when one shuts behind you. Tom
__________________
"You're in the right place. That's the door right there. Turn around."
The whole "spirituality thing" and AA has been a thorn in my side for years. I recognize it now for what it was -- a way to complicate matters, not take suggestions, and then get drunk again.
One of the suggestions that was often given to me (that I always rejected) was to think of the group itself as a Higher Power. This always seems ridiculous to me because even though I said that I rejected the conception of God as an independent being who micromanages the affairs of billions of humans, I nevertheless wanted God to wave a magic wand and make things (not me) all better. But tonight after the meeting I realized that together, with others, I can accomplish things that I could not accomplish myself. Alone, I cannot go out and pick up a car and turn it on its side. But together, with others, this task could easily be accomplished. Such a joint effort with others would obviously constitute a "power greater than myself". And if together, with others, I can accomplish such a task in the physical realm, then it certainly stands to reason to me that together we can accomplish what is impossible alone on emotional, mental, and indeed spiritual levels. Simple identification with another alcoholic in a meeting -- feeling the connection with what has been shared -- is the work of a Power greater than myself on levels other than the physical plane. There is no great leap of faith here for me -- it seems obvious. From this is where I hope to begin to conceive and truly believe in the realm of the Spirit. Today, this is absolutely enough for me.
The whole "spirituality thing" and AA has been a thorn in my side for years. I recognize it now for what it was -- a way to complicate matters, not take suggestions, and then get drunk again.
One of the suggestions that was often given to me (that I always rejected) was to think of the group itself as a Higher Power. This always seems ridiculous to me because even though I said that I rejected the conception of God as an independent being who micromanages the affairs of billions of humans, I nevertheless wanted God to wave a magic wand and make things (not me) all better. But tonight after the meeting I realized that together, with others, I can accomplish things that I could not accomplish myself. Alone, I cannot go out and pick up a car and turn it on its side. But together, with others, this task could easily be accomplished. Such a joint effort with others would obviously constitute a "power greater than myself". And if together, with others, I can accomplish such a task in the physical realm, then it certainly stands to reason to me that together we can accomplish what is impossible alone on emotional, mental, and indeed spiritual levels. Simple identification with another alcoholic in a meeting -- feeling the connection with what has been shared -- is the work of a Power greater than myself on levels other than the physical plane. There is no great leap of faith here for me -- it seems obvious. From this is where I hope to begin to conceive and truly believe in the realm of the Spirit. Today, this is absolutely enough for me.
THAT makes me cry. THAT is beautiful. It is not a "great" leap. It is a small leap that builds. Who knows where it will go? It is different for everyone. THAT is why "Eighty percent of success is just showing up" (Woody Allen) Many times it is the perserverance and the failures that bring enlightenment. My prayers go out to you Voyager and thank you for the uplifting experience!
Tom
__________________
"You're in the right place. That's the door right there. Turn around."
And if together, with others, I can accomplish such a task in the physical realm, then it certainly stands to reason to me that together we can accomplish what is impossible alone on emotional, mental, and indeed spiritual levels.
This is also how I began to approch step 2. I came to believe that if I kept going to meetings, with the fellowship and the power of the A.A. groups I could avoid picking up a drink.
Voyager, I think people get twisted up thinking they need to understand everything in a logical manner. There is no logical explanation for faith. It is believing despite not having concrete proof. This is the part of us that really needs work and constant attention cuz without it, the world seems intolerable and we are prone to drink.
__________________
Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
The title could just as well be "If you are new here, if you are coming back here, if you are already here a long time." Great simple message, especially as I have been dwelling on spiritual matters lately-thanks.
