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weakness would leave me (this feeling being so
characteristic of depressions). The walking and especially
the breathing were powerful affirmations toward life and
living and away from failure and death. The counting
represented a minimum discipline in concentration, to get
some rest from the wear and tear of fear and guilt."
Atmosphere of Grace
Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer
would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food,
or sunshine. And for the same reason. When we refuse air,
light, or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away from
meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our
emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support.
As the body can fail its purpose for lack of nourishment, so
can the soul. We all need the light of God's reality, the
nourishment of His strenth, and the atmosphere of His grace.
To an amazing extent the facts of A.A. life confirm this
ageless truth.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 97-98
". . . In All Our Affairs
"The chief purpose of A.A. is sobriety. We all realize that
without sobriety we have nothing.
"However, it is possible to expand this simple aim into a
great deal of nonsense, so far as the individual member is
concerned. Sometimes we hear him say, in effect, `Sobriety
is my sole responsibility. After all, I'm a pretty fine chap,
expect for my drinking. Give me sobriety, and I've got it
made!'
"As long as our friend clings to this comfortable alibi, he will
make so little progress with his real life problems and
responsibilities that he stands in a fair way to get drunk
again. This is why A.A.'s Twelfth Step urges that we `practice
these principles in all our affairs.' We are not living just to be
sober; we are living to learn, to serve, and to love."
Spiritual Kindetgarten
"We are only operating a spiritual kindergarten in which
people are enabled to get over drinking and find the grace to
go on living to a better effect. Each man's theology has to be
his own quest, his own affair."
When the Big Book was planned, some members thought
that it ought to be Christian in doctrinal sense. Others had no
objection to the use of the word "God", but wanted to avoid
doctrinal issues. Spirituality, yes. Religion, no. Still others
wanted a psychological book, to lure the alcoholic in. Once
in, he could take God or leave Him alone as he wished.
To the rest of us this was shocking, but happily we listened.
Our group conscience was at work to construct the most
acceptable and effective book possible.
Every voice was playing its appointed part. Our atheists and
agnostics widened our gateway so that all who suffer might
pass through, regardless of their belief or lack of belief.
When Defects Are Less than Deadly
Practically everybody wishes to be rid of his most glaring
and destructive handicaps. No one wants to be so proud that
he is scorned as a braggart, nor so greedy that he is labeled
a thief. No one wants to be angry enough to murder, lustful
enough to rape, gluttonous enough to ruin his health. No one
wants to be agonized by chronic envy or paralyzed by sloth.
Of course, most human beings don't suffer these defects at
these rock-bottom levels, and we who have escaped such
extremes are apt to congratulate ourselves. Yet can we?
After all, hasn't it been self-interest that has enabled most of
us to escape? Not much spiritual effort is involved in
avoiding excesses which will bring us punishment anyway.
But when we face up to the less violent aspects of these very
same defects, where do we stand then?
TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 66
Self-Respect Through Sacrifice
At the beginning we sacrificed alcohol. We had to, or it would
have killed us. But we couldn't get rid of alcohol unless we
made other sacrifices. We had to toss self-justification, selfpity, and anger right out the window. We had to quit the crazy
contest for personal prestige and big bank balances. We had
to take personal responsibility for our sorry slate and quit
blaming others for it.
Were these sacrifices? Yes, they were. To gain enough
humility and self-respect to stay alive at all, we had to give
up what had really been our dearest possesions -- our
ambition and our illegitimate pride.
A.A. COMES OF AGE, P. 287
Anger -- Personal and Group Enemy
"As the book `Alcoholics Anonymous' puts it, `Resentment is
the Number One offender'. It is a primary cause of relapses
into drinking. How well we of A.A. know that for us `to drink
is eventually to go mad or die'.
"Much the same penalty overhangs every A.A. group. Given
enough anger, both unity and purpose are lost. Given still
more `righteous' indignation, the group can disintegrate; it
can actually die. This is why we avoid controversy. This is
why we prescribe no punishments for any misbehavior, no
matter how grievous. Indeed, no alcoholic can be deprived of
his membership for any reason whatever.
"Punishment never heals. Only love can heal."
The "Slipper" Needs Understanding
"Slips can often be charged to rebellion; some of us are
more rebellious than others. Slips may be due to the illusion
that one can be `cured' of alcoholism. Slips can also be
charged to carelessness and complacency. Many of us fail to
ride out these periods sober. Things go fine for two or three
years -- then the member is seen no more. Some of us suffer
extreme guilt because of vices or practices that we can't or

weakness would leave me (this feeling being so

characteristic of depressions). The walking and especially

the breathing were powerful affirmations toward life and

living and away from failure and death. The counting

represented a minimum discipline in concentration, to get

some rest from the wear and tear of fear and guilt."

Atmosphere of Grace

Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer

would no more do without it than we would refuse air, food,

or sunshine. And for the same reason. When we refuse air,

light, or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away from

meditation and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our

emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support.

As the body can fail its purpose for lack of nourishment, so

can the soul. We all need the light of God's reality, the

nourishment of His strenth, and the atmosphere of His grace.

To an amazing extent the facts of A.A. life confirm this

ageless truth.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 97-98

". . . In All Our Affairs

"The chief purpose of A.A. is sobriety. We all realize that

without sobriety we have nothing.

"However, it is possible to expand this simple aim into a

great deal of nonsense, so far as the individual member is

concerned. Sometimes we hear him say, in effect, `Sobriety

is my sole responsibility. After all, I'm a pretty fine chap,

expect for my drinking. Give me sobriety, and I've got it

made!'

"As long as our friend clings to this comfortable alibi, he will

make so little progress with his real life problems and

responsibilities that he stands in a fair way to get drunk

again. This is why A.A.'s Twelfth Step urges that we `practice

these principles in all our affairs.' We are not living just to be

sober; we are living to learn, to serve, and to love."

Spiritual Kindetgarten

"We are only operating a spiritual kindergarten in which

people are enabled to get over drinking and find the grace to

go on living to a better effect. Each man's theology has to be

his own quest, his own affair."

When the Big Book was planned, some members thought

that it ought to be Christian in doctrinal sense. Others had no

objection to the use of the word "God", but wanted to avoid

doctrinal issues. Spirituality, yes. Religion, no. Still others

wanted a psychological book, to lure the alcoholic in. Once

in, he could take God or leave Him alone as he wished.

To the rest of us this was shocking, but happily we listened.

Our group conscience was at work to construct the most

acceptable and effective book possible.

Every voice was playing its appointed part. Our atheists and

agnostics widened our gateway so that all who suffer might

pass through, regardless of their belief or lack of belief.

When Defects Are Less than Deadly

Practically everybody wishes to be rid of his most glaring

and destructive handicaps. No one wants to be so proud that

he is scorned as a braggart, nor so greedy that he is labeled

a thief. No one wants to be angry enough to murder, lustful

enough to rape, gluttonous enough to ruin his health. No one

wants to be agonized by chronic envy or paralyzed by sloth.

Of course, most human beings don't suffer these defects at

these rock-bottom levels, and we who have escaped such

extremes are apt to congratulate ourselves. Yet can we?

After all, hasn't it been self-interest that has enabled most of

us to escape? Not much spiritual effort is involved in

avoiding excesses which will bring us punishment anyway.

But when we face up to the less violent aspects of these very

same defects, where do we stand then?

TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 66

Self-Respect Through Sacrifice

At the beginning we sacrificed alcohol. We had to, or it would

have killed us. But we couldn't get rid of alcohol unless we

made other sacrifices. We had to toss self-justification, selfpity, and anger right out the window. We had to quit the crazy

contest for personal prestige and big bank balances. We had

to take personal responsibility for our sorry slate and quit

blaming others for it.

Were these sacrifices? Yes, they were. To gain enough

humility and self-respect to stay alive at all, we had to give

up what had really been our dearest possesions -- our

ambition and our illegitimate pride.

A.A. COMES OF AGE, P. 287

Anger -- Personal and Group Enemy

"As the book `Alcoholics Anonymous' puts it, `Resentment is

the Number One offender'. It is a primary cause of relapses

into drinking. How well we of A.A. know that for us `to drink

is eventually to go mad or die'.

"Much the same penalty overhangs every A.A. group. Given

enough anger, both unity and purpose are lost. Given still

more `righteous' indignation, the group can disintegrate; it

can actually die. This is why we avoid controversy. This is

why we prescribe no punishments for any misbehavior, no

matter how grievous. Indeed, no alcoholic can be deprived of

his membership for any reason whatever.

"Punishment never heals. Only love can heal."

The "Slipper" Needs Understanding

"Slips can often be charged to rebellion; some of us are

more rebellious than others. Slips may be due to the illusion

that one can be `cured' of alcoholism. Slips can also be

charged to carelessness and complacency. Many of us fail to

ride out these periods sober. Things go fine for two or three

years -- then the member is seen no more. Some of us suffer

extreme guilt because of vices or practices that we can't or