Its steps one and two. Step three starts in the next paragraph. I like (A) version of step one the best. Can't manage my own life. Drunk or sober my management skills suck. That's why moving into step is a vote to take action to get a new manager. In The (C) " if he were sought " is the caret to move us along to step three.
-- Edited by billyjack on Saturday 23rd of June 2012 10:58:58 AM
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Since it cost a lot to win, and even more to loose, you and me gotta spend some time just wondering what to choose.
A guy in a meeting yesterday was saying the ABC's are steps one, two and three.
Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. (c) That God could and would if He were sought.
I tend to look at them as the two parts of step one (Reversed) and step two....And...
Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will and our life over to God as we understood Him. Just what do we mean by that, and just what do we do?
I was talking to another guy after the meeting and he said he never thought about it...This is read before almost every meeting going on...Just curious what your thoughts were....The way I look at C.....God could...and would....Could what?....Restore us to sanity. Just curious...So I'll throw it out there.
Hmmm, the ABC's of Alcoholics Anonymous. That's an interesting analogy Stepchild. I guess it makes sense though, being that steps 1,2,3 are crucial in our fight against the deadly disease. But they're only three of 12.
Yeah, step one is important because it points out the obvious -my alcoholism, and our lack of control over everything alcohol related. And yeah, step 2 is important also because it talks about sane living, which is important in this day and age. And step 3 fits in nicely also because it conveys a message of complete trust, on both a higher power -of our choosing- and our brethren, of course. But what about the remaining 9 steps.
I do get where you're coming from Stepchild and I know how important the first three steps truly are, but again they're just 3 of 12. If I'm going to recover fully from this dreadful disease, I need to incorporate the principles of all 12 steps into my recovery routine and not just the first three. So, yes, the first three steps are The ABC's of recovery because they start us out with three important aspects of a great recovery plan, but again they're only 3 of 12. Maybe you can start another topic at that same meeting: 'what to do with the remaining 9'. It's just my take though. Thanks again for listening.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Saturday 23rd of June 2012 11:55:59 PM
I take it pretty literally, I guess. No human power can relieve our alcoholism, but God can and will if He is sought. I like the ABC concept. Works for me! :)
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I think there's an invisible principle of living...if we believe we're guided through every step of our lives, we are. Its a lovely sight, watching it work.
For me it's always been God could restore me to sanity. If I neglect my meetings and my fellowship with God, I am not a very nice person to be with. It's only by God's grace, that I am not drinking alcohol and I am not dead yet.
...Just curious what your thoughts were....The way I look at C.....God could...and would....Could what?....Restore us to sanity. Just curious...So I'll throw it out there.
Great post and great question Stepchild, ... ... ... To me?, ... it means that IF I turn myself over to the CARE of God, then I have NO worries of trying to force my life to be a certain way, I leave all that to God ... ... ... AND, my higher power no longer needs to be alcohol ... humans could not help and king alcohol sure enough had total control of my life ... so IF my life is turned over to God, all this other stuff aligns itself properly and my search for the life puzzle solution is ended, I'm home ...
I found that God Could ... AND God did ...
Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Of course you have the other 9....I'm just saying as you read the book...The directions for the 12 steps...Step one...You admit something to yourself...Step two...You come to believe something....Saying the third step prayer is the result of a decision you make.....And that's even left open as the book says...."Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him:" It just seems to me you can't move on to three...Unless those two steps are clear...And there is no doubt...And that why it's written like that.
Step four is actually the first step we are asked to do something physically...As in putting pen to paper.
Amen Stepchild, no argument here. I'm just letting you know where I stand, that's all. Step four is important and so are the remaining 8 steps, but again you're spot on with the steps anyway. Now, I'm going swimming. Thanks.
a good exercise is to highlight A, B, and C each a different color then go through the first 60 pages and highlight each portion of the book one of those three colors, everything in the first 60 pages is to bring you to that point and get started on step 3, everything written can be highlighted one of those colors.
The Book isn't written nearly as poorly as everyone thinks it is, it's a textbook that is mathematically spot on
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Light a man a fire and he's warm for a night, set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life
As you already pointed out...yes, since the -very- next sentence says "Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will and our life over to God as we understood Him. Just what do we mean by that, and just what do we do? "
the next 5 paragraphs explain "just what do we mean by that" and the following paragraphs explain "just what do we do"
It's quite simple
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Light a man a fire and he's warm for a night, set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life
What amazed me about the three pertinent ideas didn't come from an alcoholic the first one a is contributed did William silkworth was is the medical idea. B,the second one is contributed to Dr. Carl Jung , psychiatric idea. And C, is contributed to William James a clergyman and that is the religious or spiritual idea
Just goes to show, we alcoholics were truly powerless over alcohol. We needed the help of non-alcoholics to recover. So, really, its not amazing at all that steps 1-3 did not originate with alcoholics. You cant fix a broken brain with a broken brain.
