Therefore, Step Two is the rallying point for all of us. “Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step. TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 33
I feel that A.A. is a God-inspired program and that God is at every A.A. meeting. I see, believe, and have come to know that A.A. works, because I have stayed sober today. I am turning my life over to A.A. and to God by going to an A.A. meeting. If God is in my heart and He speaks to me through other people, then I must be a channel of God to other people. I should seek to do His will by living spiritual principles and my reward will be sanity and emotional sobriety.
A RALLYING POINT
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{ 40 comments }
Seems we don’t get through any meeting of our spiritual fellowship without the repeated acknowledgment of the need and presence of a power greater than ourselves.
for an old geezer who grace spoke to and declared “The old way just doesn’t seem to be working out”.
Our needs are met, sometimes it seems it is pounded into us that first and foremost in the now and always to be conscious of the sweet presence of awesome power which most of us have not yet realized.
These concepts are in full concert with the wisdom of the ages that I was led to resolve to pay attention and respect to.
So my higher power comes to me from out of the past, in the present and expectantly in the future.
Wow!
What a beautiful state of mind
I’m Harry, grateful alcoholic. Georgia, USA.
I came. I came to. I came to believe. I stay to learn. I stay to live. I stay because I know the insanity will return if I leave. I was adrift alone and afraid using beer and pot to deny reality. What began as an occasional inconsistant almost reluctant compliance to a sponsors suggesion of daily prayer and reading, has grown into a real desire to know not only about my Higher Power but to have a real relationship with HIM. Just like learning about the opposite sex, sooner or later you may decide you want a relationship with one. As I learned about God, I realized to have a relationship with Him was within reach and all I had to do was ask. Trying to do life without Him now would be insane. I choose sanity. I choose sobriety. I choose AA and I choose GOD. I am David McD and I am glad I came. Hope you stay long enough to meet HIM.
My name is Adam and I am an alcoholic.
I came to believe in a power greater than myself by seeing how this program worked for others. I was able to experience a higher power that was restoring people to sanity right before my eyes.
This program worked and there was proof, this proof gave me enough willingness to believe that it could work for me as well.
I am so grateful that I am no longer alone.
AT
Theres is a line missing in this daily reflection . Please check
If God is in my heart and everyone else’s,
then I am a small part of a whole and I am not unique.
Found it. Fire anonymous!! Off with ‘is ‘ead!!
Blasphemy, Anthony!!! 8>}
Thanks Bernie.
If I dare take my will back, they’re will be disastrous consequences. Dam, I see people do it all the time, more often than not. I know I’m not to take their inventory so I pray! I pray, I do not fall prey to self ever again. I pray they come back. I can’t, we can! I pray for knowledge of his will for me, just for today! God bless this program and all of you! Have a spiritualicious day!
“Thy will be done.” There is not a sweeter set of words that I can say today. For my own will took me to the darkest places I have ever been. I hand my will over every morning, and look forward to in which way my higher power can work through me. The spiritual principles I have learned in this program, are the most powerful tools I have in my toolbox.
There is a scene in The Minority Report where Tom Cruise is running through a mall with one of the clairvoyants and they pass an umbrella stand. She tells him to “take the umbrella” and he hesitates because it makes no sense and they are trying keep running and hiding from the cops. She implores him through gritted teeth “take the umbrella!!!” so he does. A few minutes later they burst outside, a sudden downpour hits, and the umbrella hides them from their pursuers. Sometimes my higher power has to work extra hard to get my attention, “take the freaking umbrella!!!!” When I manage to listen, I later realize what it was all about, “aha!” When I don’t, I get drenched and ask myself why, why, why I ignored that “little voice” inside. Sometimes I still learn the hard way. Zuzu in but-it’s-not-raining San Francisco
Cool explanation Zuzu! I laughed at first and saw some true to it through past experiences. Thx!
I’m Jill, grateful alcoholic in Kansas. What a great way to start the day & week!! Up early, got in a little exercise, kids to school, now this “meeting”. Have a wonderful day everyone:)
“Take the umbrella” so simple but so challanging. I always need to know why….. Progress not perfection. One day at a time. Thy will be done, please remove from me that which blocks me from you.
Have a great day ! Greatfull for another 24
Good Monday Morning my brothers and sisters in AA.
For some reason I cant seem to get my comment to post. There must be a reason. So I just say hello and continue to pray for me as today is my 20th day since relapse. I live minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day. Thank my HP and all of you for being sober today.
Tree in SOFLa
Keep up the good work, Tree. Stay very near and all shall be well.
Thank you so much Zuzu that means a lot to me. I am a terrible isolater and painfully shy so I have to work hard at fellowship. But I have been going to meeting everyday and have a temp sponsor. That’s why this meeting place is such a blessing as one alternative meeting. It cannot replace my meeting where I meet fellow AA’ers face to face. However, I am able to feely express my feelings with full anonymity and no fear of rejection. I thank God daily for this site and all you wonderful caring people across the world. TREE from SOFLA
I can identify with you Tree and Zuzu always has simple, eloquent, thoughts by keeping it simple. I don’t have to be one of those amazing people that gets the whole thing, but then again I don’t have over 20 years of recovery, yet!
May we all be open to the “great good things” love and guidance,
Maggie, trudging
Thank you Maggie!!!!Good to hear from you!! Lets have a good day today with the power of our HP!!! I/WE will not care what others think. We will work to the best of our ability and most important we will treat others with Love and Kindess whether they are in the felowship or not. I pray for my boss everyday for God to give him understanding and leadership.
This website is a Godsend. I get a spiritual vitamin before ever leaving the house. My HP has saved me from a drink at least twice thru the actions of AA’s I had never even met. This fellowship is HP driven, inspired and sustained. I am so blessed to be a sober alcoholic today and on a spiritual path. Thank u all. Alix, alcoholic, florida
I thank God today I already went to a 8am meeting. He was there with all of us, stay sane.
Awesome, david. Thank you. You spoke my heart
Where did my comment go? Tree I wrote that for you.
Im curious what do you mean? I really want to know and want to understand this program.
Hi Shirni
I was not sure what you meant by Where did my comment go? What comment? As a recovering Alcoholic you must know that we are very insecure. Anything anyone says to me I twist it into being something negative. One of my many charachter defects. I joined AA in Feb 24, 2010. The longest sobriety I was able to maintain was six months. I had a built in forgetter and thought hmmm maybe I can drink like a normal person. I did sucessfully for a little while. However I had to really control myself. But on January 18 I drank and boy did I drink. Landed in hospital with acute gastritis. So even though I can drink “controlled” for some periods of time, I never know when this alcoholic obsession will overtake me and it usually is not any reason for it. The old double edged sword. The insanity and the unmanageability comes greater than before. If I am to keep my sanity and manage my home, my job, take care and love my 17 year old son, I have to fully know and understand the program. I have to follow the suggestions. Listen to my fellow AA brothers and sisters as if they are speaking through God. But of course, not to intelectuallize the program I need to Let Go and Let God. I have to turn my life and will over to the care of God. I think this is the concept that will save me. I hope I answered your question Shrini. Hey by the way one of my company subsidiaries that I work for is is in India just outside of New Delhi. What a coincidence. Namaste! TREE in SOFLA
Zuzu am all envy! Fewer words lots Of wisdom. Shrini, alcoholic
Bill W. was prone to pie in the sky sweeping statements with little connection to reality and the lines posted as is this morning is a good example. The next line in the quote talk about humility, I don’t believe I am unique in saying that I had little or no humility when I got here. Desperation yes humility no. And it was 9 months or so before I could approach step 2 at all. It was not that I did not believe myself to be insane, I did. But I had very little belief that step 2 would work, I sure as hell wanted it to but fear and ego created a almost insurmountable barrier…almost. I know now that it was the fellowship,( God with skin on) that carried me past these barriers.
Having said all of that step 2 for many is not a rallying point but one of often angry and hostile disagreement. Often the point at which some go back out and stay out. Those of us who have been around a while may well be able to agree on step 2, but we do the newcomer a grave disservice to assume that they do.
You are absolutely right, Paul. I see so many parts of the BB that beg to be re-written, like “We Agnostics” which I find disingenuous.
I’m plenty good with sticking with the book as it is. Once I get it all down perfectly, I’ll enter the debate on what should be changed.
I’m Billy. I’m an alcoholic.
Temple, TX
How to prevent disappearing comments:
1. Drink a large coffee.
2. Write your post.
3. Before you submit your post, copy it.
4. Submit your post.
5. Sip more coffee and watch screen turn white.
6. Wait and scratch head.
7. Open your browser and a open a new, second page of this website.
8. If your comment is not there, hit refresh a few times while continuing to drink coffee.
9. If comment is still gone, write a new one, using the pasted copy of your old one. Re-submit. This time it will work.
10. Try to calm down, which will be difficult, due to all the coffee.
Funny Z you have time on your hands huh!?
I find that if you are working on a lap top or desk top click submit a few clicks quickly (say that 5 times)…really then the blogo will tell you “too many yadaya” and then you click “back”
C’est voila!
Lesson for the day:
Drink coffee and check your work! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Hi Tree, what I was saying was, you are doing great by day 20. I too came from a relapse and it’s month 20 for me. Soon it would be months and years for you. I know exactly how you feel now since I was there a little while ago. Your experience of relapse will help others like mine did. God bless. You are in my prayers. Shrini, alcoholic from india.
HI Shrini
Thanks so much. You know when you relapse you feel like such a failure. But you cant wallow in that. I dont mean to treat it lightly, and dont want to become a habitial white chipper, but you have to pick yourself up again and get back on the horse. And mostly all, especially for me forget about your ego. Your ego can kill you. It was a a tough 18 or 19 days full of physical pain and mental anquish. But today I feel great. Blessed be my higher power and you Shrini for giving me faith. Namaste TREE in SOFLA
Tree, that was the comment I wrote which got lost in the cyberspace. The question was just a loud proclamation of frustration. Not directed at anyone in particular.
Outside of Delhi, is it Gurgoan or Noida? I am from the south though. Been to south cal many times. I travel a bit on my job.
Shrini, alcoholic from India.
HI Shrini
Yeah are office is in Gurgoan. Some very wonderful people work there.
Tree
Shrini baby! THAT’S called KARMA!
Yes AinV
BillyJ, I am with you. Shrini, alcoholic
I thank god for this program every day. i have ben sober for 10 months as of feb 03 and i thank god every day for that