This may seem nit picky to some of you newcomers to the honey fuggling mess that is GSO – but I assure you it is not! The footnote of this statement “Continued to take personal inventory” is from p. 59 of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, which is our basic text. This is the book that contains the SOLUTION to alcoholSM.
Not the fucking 12 x 12. The book, Alcoholics Anonymous is being eased out on all sides, Of course – it’s old and outdated and isn’t selling as well as it used to. Time for a new translation which will make it “current” so that it “resonates” with the new genders and addicts who will spend lots of money if their favorite social cause is mentioned.
The big book, Alcoholics Anonymous was written by a group of people – the first 80 – 120 people to recover from alcoholism in 1934-1939, whereas the 12×12 was written by 2 people. The point of this is that when a group writes it, God is in the pages. When 1 or 2 people write, not so much.
but for the REAL ALCOHOLIC of which AA is saturated with many hard-drinkers, psychopaths and ACOAs who are not “done” – the program is in the that book, Alcoholics Anonymous. The 12×12 was written by Bill W. and Tom P to sell the Traditions to the fellowship and it has done nothing but confuse people. We have “Step Meetings” in which we discuss the windy arguments of the 12×12.
Here are where the Steps are located in the Big Book
Then you go on to read this ridiculous entry in the Daily Reflections for October 7 I have the responsibility to choose what goes on within me? I am the creator of my own reality? I must stop judging others?
What a bunch of hooey!!!! This bullshit is infiltrating AA through our own literature… Big Book says that God makes it possible for me to be rid of selfishness – so that means I have to pray for that. I do not have the power to choose what goes on within me. I don’t. I have the power to ask God to remove it and I have the power to pray and to go help someone to get out of self. On p. 133 it says that I am to avoid the deliberate manufacture of misery – again – I will be praying for God to change my thinking and I will be attempting to act rightly… I judge others continuously but then I pause and pray to God to change my thinking – to accept the things I cannot change – to love my brothers and sisters as myself – I ask God to help me to realize that “they” are spiritually sick like I am…
But I never get the power to do this myself. Sorry.
Other cobwebs gathering in meeting room corners around here, probably from treatment, are “I just want to be a better person…” Yea right. Only if it is going to give me MY WAY. I want my way and if I need to be nice to you to get my way, This is stated in Alcoholics Anonymous in the chapter How It Works; (I paraphrase) evermore demanding or gracious as the case may be I want to STOP DRINKING and I never want to drink again. That’s why I am doing this. You think that gets old? So I need a better motive?
One day at a time, I am still an alcoholic. I still could drink again. I have the strange mental twist – I still have it and I will always have it. I have a mind that doesn’t work right and a body that won’t die… Therefore I do all this stuff so that I will never have to drink again, one day at a time.
I am also regularly hearing “I ask God to help me stay sober” well, my hat is off to you! I ask God to keep me sober. It’s just a few little words difference but they are worlds apart in meaning.
God is keeping me sober today. God is not helping me to keep myself sober today. If I rely on the latter, I will be drunk.
I also hear from some people that God is their co-creator. Good for them. God is my Creator. I want God’s will to be done, NOT mine. Thy Will, not mine, be done.
Alcoholism IS cunning, baffling and powerful…and patient.
Anonymous Alcoholics 