Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they offer. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 87
I do not claim to have all the answers in spiritual matters, any more than I claim to have all the answers about alcoholism. There are others who are also engaged in a spiritual search. If I keep an open mind about what others have to say, I have much to gain. My sobriety is greatly enriched, and my practice of the Eleventh Step more fruitful, when I use both the literature and practices of my Judeo-Christian tradition, and the resources of other religions. Thus, I receive support from many sources in staying away from the first drink.
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I believed in God when I came to AA, but it was a punishing, angry, vengeful God who wanted to destroy me. AA taught me plainly and simply that God is love, and he is forgiving, merciful and compassionate. Once my God of anger was replaced by a God of love, my pursuit of spirituality within a religious context was enabled to grow and mature. I would not have a meaningful relationship with God within an atmosphere of praise and worship were it not for the simple message of God’s love that I found in AA.
Here is my thought for the day…
Last night at the meeting the topic was insanity, doing the same thing yet expecting different results.
In attendance was a man who had been coming to AA for 10 years but never got more than 30 days sober.
He asked, “should I try somthing different”? The group guru said “no, you just aren’t doing it right”.
AA is a social club that rewards those who do it right. Those that do not are programmed to jails, institutions, or death.
Just for today, I will stay away from AA group think, slogans, platitudes, and absolutes. I reject the programming and embrace sobriety through true conciousness and reality.
The principles are pure the people are people, we love ourv meetings on the beach though. http://ww.soberliving.com