It is said that just prior to that famous and disastrous charge in the Crimean war, General Cardigan considered reinforcements were required. His method for requesting same was to have a verbal message passed along a line of sentries guarding the flank and thence to the reserve company in the rear. The message was "Send reinforcements, we are going to advance" The message was passed along and when received at the reserve company was greeted with some surprise and puzzlement. It had changed in the telling to "Send three and fourpence, we are going to a dance". the result of this miscommunication was a disaster as we know.
Something along these lines was in the minds of those who wrote the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Whilst never claiming their experience was the last word in recovery from alcoholism and always considerate of professionals in the field, they nevertheless felt that their message was in danger of being distorted through word of mouth. On top of that was the phenomenal interest that was being generated through the media, just too many suffering alcoholics to be dealt with on a one to one basis. So the logical thing to do was to write down how they recovered and in fact it is mentioned in the foreword that "explaining precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book"
The first time I read the book I thought it a little old fashioned but in my journey I have come to see past this and to recognise that the principles, experiences, and ideas expressed are just as relevent to me today as when they were first written. In fact, as time goes on it makes more and more sense. It seems incredible that the authors were no more than 4 years sober when they wrote it. It must have been divinely inspired. Can you imagine what a book written by a bunch of 4 year olds would look like today?
God bless,
Mike H.
-- Edited by Fyne Spirit on Wednesday 9th of November 2011 10:51:49 PM
-- Edited by Fyne Spirit on Sunday 13th of November 2011 10:29:42 PM
Thanks...for the insight. I totally agree with you "FS". The "Big Book" is still a "staple" in the recovery community, especially for me. It's a fascinating piece of sober literature, by far, even with all its eccentricities. The examples left by other sober men and women are inspiring, as they share a little part of themselves with all of us. They've envisioned a life that all of us can appreciate, a life that's full of hope and promise. As they leave a lasting impression on all of us who came to believe. They have touched many lives for the better (especially mine) and I hope, it continues to impact my sobriety -as it does yours, many sober years from now.
~God bless~
-- Edited by Mr_David on Thursday 10th of November 2011 03:55:41 AM
I agree, I first thought the writing dated in the BB. Loved to be critical and see what I didn't like. If something really is evidence of the thinking of 1930's when it was written, I can substitute mentally, for example instead of "To Wives", I think, "to spouses and loved ones". And the more I read it, and stay sober, the more relevant and profound it seems. Today I love the particular expressions, it's fantastic. We could do a thread with favorite expressions in the book. "The broad hyway", "Rocketed into the fourth dimension", there's so much and all the basics too. Thank you for reminding me.
My sponsor told me to read the entire preface section first...right when I came into the program. That is where they discuss the Oxford Groups, how AA formed, how membership expanded all over, and all the revisions of the book. Anyhow, the point of all that was to show that AA is divinely inspired and that I was tapping into something so much larger than myself that it was awesome. In sum, the pulse of AA is pretty amazing and we are lucky that it now extends almost everywhere we go.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Hey Mike, ... You've just put into words my very thoughts on the BB ... I've been struggling to try and put into words just why the BB seems so 'timeless' ... It was written in such a fashion so as to be just as applicable today as it was back when written ... As Dr. Bob called it, the Good Book, was written in just such a fashion as to be 'timeless' also ... Coincidence? ... I know in my heart that both books are divinely inspired ... Love your expression and thoughts on this ... thanks Mike
God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
I really do believe that the Good Book and the Big Book came from the same place. I might ad in the Sermon on the Mount by Emmit Foxx, a book that came out 4 years before the BB and one that a very open minded former agnostic alcoholic named Bill W. used for inspiration along with other literature. It's almost like God looked down and saw his Children were having problems with alcohol and sent them some help.
It really is the most beautifully written set of instructions I have ever seen. It is a masterpiece textbook that should be read from that first blank page...Because that is what you know about alcoholism and recovery when you start it. It is written by alcoholics for alcoholics and it works. God gave this gifted group of drunks a solution and they somehow were able to put this into words that are timeless.
By the Grace (a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification) of God it fell into my shaking hands and changed my life. I can't read this book enough and I often just open it up to a random page and start reading. Like the other two I mentioned, I learn something new every time. What a gift...one that you can open over and over and get something new.
Hey, question .... I was just wondering if your web name is to indicate that you're a 'step' worker and that you are a 'child' of God or 'child' in the program? ... or whether you're actually a 'stepchild in the family sense? ... Just curious!
God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
