The willingness to grow is the essence of all spiritual development. As Bill Sees It, p.171
A line from a song goes, “. . . and I look to find a reason to believe .. .” It reminds me that at one time I was not able to find a reason to believe that my life was all right. Even though my life had been saved by coming to A.A., three months later I went out and drank again. Someone told me: “You don’t have to believe. Aren’t you willing to believe that there is a reason for your life, even though you may not know yourself what that reason is, or that you may not sometimes know the right way to behave?” When I saw how willing I was to believe there was a reason for my life, then I could start to work on the Steps. Now when I begin with, “I am willing. .. ,” I am using the key that leads to action, honesty, and openness to a Higher Power moving through my life.
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Bill W. was not coming up with any new principles.
Willingness is the key to any kind of development, spiritual or otherwise.
Alcoholism is a spiritual malady which is an out of control disobedience of the universal principles that govern all of mankind. It is a problem of power; who’s in control? When I stepped through the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous I was making an agreement to put my willful “self will run riot” under the auspices of AA. — See how much willingness is here?
In my “Normal life” I had been a willing participant in a very complex and complicated endeavor in life which I was quite successful at but not as much is I was entirely pleased with.
I had excellent training reinforced by constant practice and it was able to tide me through even though I suffered some impairment and sometimes more than “some”.
This did not insulate me from guilt and shame for I had a charge which I willingly agreed to put forth my best effort at all times. The disease of alcoholism simply will not let one be able to do this.
Any alcoholic, any chemically dependent person, anyone with any kind of abnormal attachment and gets under the power of these various things is constantly impaired.
My willingness to enter into this strange world and into this different Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous was met with a fair degree of resistance and reticence but the misery of my last drunk which was recalled at every meeting lit a flame to the flicker of willingness.
Willingness has grown or been transmuted into eagerness, thanks to God as I understand him and his loyal helpers in Alcoholics Anonymous.
I’m Harry, may I grow into evermore willingness.
the reflection about being “willing to believe” that ones life has a reason or purpose is wonderful and thoughtful.
Lord, help me today to be willing to be willing to be willing!