I've posted this before...Awhile ago....And I still think it's the best description of the AA program that I've seen. It's from a Grapevine article written by Clarence Snyder...One of the original members that got sober before Bill W. had put the steps on paper. Clarence Snyder started the first AA group in Cleveland and named it Alcoholics Anonymous after the book...I've heard it said that he would have been one of the founding fathers....But he and Bill W. didn't really see eye to eye....Both a couple of strong headed drunks. It's a good share though...If you haven't seen it...It's worth a read.
I've Never Quit Being Active by Clarence Snyder A.A. Grapevine, November 1999
On February 11, 1938, I had my last drink. I was a chronic alky, and through a long, involved miracle, I met my sponsor, Dr. Bob, one of our co-founders. He put me in Akron City Hospital, where I met the alkies who had preceded me in the Fellowship.
Fifteen months later, I organized the Cleveland, Ohio AA group. The activity in the Cleveland area was hectic. I spent practically all my time obtaining and following up on publicity for AA, lining up cooperation with civic and church groups, hospitals, and courts, and helping new groups to start.
So what do I do now, thirty years later? I have never quit being active, although my position in the Fellowship has modified over the years. I attend an average of two meetings per week, when I am home. I am also asked to speak at various groups. In addition, I am invited to take part in numerous group anniversary programs and AA roundups around the country (and sometimes out of the country). Many people call upon me for counsel and advice on both personal and group problems. I have an extensive correspondence, since I have made so many friends in AA from coast to coast. Once in a while, I sponsor someone. Cases where about everything has been tried, by everyone else, often wind up in my hands.
I have not found the program to be difficult, and I maintain that if it does seem difficult for anyone, he is not doing it "right." Certainly, when I came to this Fellowship, I was in no position or condition to handle anything difficult! I kept things simple. But I must add that when I first began I was well sponsored.
I took measures now summarized in the first nine Steps of the program: admittance of need (the First Step), surrender (Second through Seventh), and restitution (Eighth and Ninth). Having done this, I no longer had a drinking problem, since it had been turned over to a Higher Power. Now I had - and still have - a living problem. But that is taken care of by the practice of Steps Ten, Eleven, and Twelve. So I don't have to be concerned about anything but a simple three-step program, which with practice has become habitual.
Step Ten enables me to check on myself and my activities of the day. I have found that most things disturbing me are little things, but still the very things which, if not dealt with, can pile up and eventually overwhelm me. My daily checkup covers good deeds as well as questionable ones; often, I find I can commend myself in some areas, while in others I owe apologies.
Step Eleven is done after my daily inventory. I usually need the peace resulting from prayer and meditation, and I do receive guidance for my life and actions.
Step Twelve, to me, does involve not only carrying the message, but extending AA principles into all phases of my daily life.
I learned long ago that this is a life-changing program, but that, after the change occurs, it is necessary for me to go on making the effort to improve myself mentally, morally, and spiritually.
This is my simple program, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a good life and is willing to do his share of helping.
I might have said this before but, though I hadn't seen this prior to your posts SC, it is pretty much how I have come to understand the program as well. Like Clarence I was in no condition to tackle anything difficult and I also had great sponsorship.
I guess what I like about that article is the simplicity of it. I know when I first got to AA...It didn't look simple to me at all....But I kept hearing...Keep it simple. Early on that was beyond me...We alcoholics like to complicate things...Having worked those steps with a great sponsor...I can look back now and say....It's really not that complicated....But it's life changing.
