kobe-ja/AsBillSeesIt · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 4 128
"It does not seem to pay to argue with `slippers' about the
proper method of getting dry. After all, why should people
who are drinking tell people who are dry how it should be
done?
"Just kid the boys along -- ask them if they are having fun. If
they are too noisy or troublesome, amiably keep out of their
way."
Built by the One and the Many
We give thanks to our Heavenly Father, who, through so
many friends and through so many means and channels, has
allowed us to construct this wonderful edifice of the spirit in
which we are now dwelling -- this cathedral whose
foundations already rest upon the corners of the earth.
On its great floor we have inscribed our Twelve Steps of
recovery. On the side walls, the buttresses of the A.A.
Traditions have been set in place to contain us in unity for as
long as God may will it so. Eager hearts and hands have
lifted the spire of our cathedral into its place. That spire
bears the name of Service. May it ever point straight upward
toward God.
"It's not only to the few that we owe the remarkable
developments in our unity and in our ability to carry A.A.'s
message everywhere. It is to the many; indeed, it is to the
labors of all of us that we owe these prime blessings."
Perception of Humility
An improved perception of humility starts a revolutionary
change in our outlook. Our eyes begin to open to the
immense values which have come straight out of painful egopuncturing. Until now, our lives have been largely devoted to
running from pain and problems. Escape via the bottle was
always our solution.
Then, in A.A., we looked and listened. Everywhere we saw
failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless
assets.
To those who have made progress in A.A., humility amounts
to a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed
by a sincere attempt to become what we could be.
TWELVE AND TWELVE
Imagination Can Be Constructive
We recall, a little ruefully, how much store we used to set by
imagination as it tried to create reality out of bottles. Yes, we
reveled in that sort of thinking, didn't we? And, though sober
nowadays, don't we often try to do much the same thing?
Perhaps our trouble was not that we used our imagination.
Perhaps the real trouble was our almost total inability to
point imagination toward the right objectives. There's
nothing the matter with truly constructive imagination; all
sound achievements rests upon it. After all, no man can build
a house until he first visions a plan for it.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 100
Tolerance in Practice
"We found that the principles of tolerance and love had to be
emphasized in actual practice. We can never say (or
insinuate) to anyone that he must agree to our formula or be
excommunicated. The atheist may stand up in an A.A.
meeting still denying the Deity, yet reporting how vastely he
has been changed in attitude and outlook. Much experience
tells us he will presently change his mind about God, but
nobody tells him he must do so.
"In order to carry the principle of inclusiveness and tolerance
still further, we make no religious requirement of anyone. All
people having an alcoholic problem who wish to get rid of it
and so make a happy adjustment with the circumstances of
their lives, become A.A. members by simply associating with
us. Nothing but sincerity is needed. But we do not demand
even this.
"In such an atmosphere the orthodox, the unorthodox, and
the unbeliever mix happily and usefully together. An
opportunity for spiritual growth is open to all."
Between the Extremes
"The real question is whether we can learn anything from our
experiences upon which we may grow and help others to
grow in the likeness and image of God.
"We know that if we rebel against doing that which is
reasonably possible for us, then we will be penalized. And we
will be equally penalized if we presume in ourselves a
perfection that simply is not there.
"Apparently, the course of relative humility and progress will
have to lie somewhere between these extremes. In our slow
progress away from rebellion, true perfection is doubtless
several millennia away."
The Rationalizers and the Self-Effacing
We alcoholics are the biggest rationalizers in the world.
Fortified with the excuse that we are doing great things for
A.A., we can, through broken anonymity, resume our old and
disastrous pursuit of personal power and prestige, public
honors, and money -- the same implacable urges that, when
frustrated, once caused us to drink.
Dr. Bob was essentially a far more humble person than I, and
anonymity came rather easily to him. When it was sure that
he was mortally afflicted, some of his friends suggested that
there should be a monument erected in honor of him and his
wife, Anne -- befitting a founder and his lady. Telling me
about this, Dr. Bob grinned broadly and said, "God bless 'em.
They mean well. But let's you and me get buried just
likeother folks."
In the Akron cementery where Dr. Bob and Anne lie, the
simple stone says not a word about A.A. This final example
of self-effacement is of more permanent worth to A.A. than
any amount of public attention or any great monument.
A.A. COMES OF AGE

"It does not seem to pay to argue with `slippers' about the

proper method of getting dry. After all, why should people

who are drinking tell people who are dry how it should be

done?

"Just kid the boys along -- ask them if they are having fun. If

they are too noisy or troublesome, amiably keep out of their

way."

Built by the One and the Many

We give thanks to our Heavenly Father, who, through so

many friends and through so many means and channels, has

allowed us to construct this wonderful edifice of the spirit in

which we are now dwelling -- this cathedral whose

foundations already rest upon the corners of the earth.

On its great floor we have inscribed our Twelve Steps of

recovery. On the side walls, the buttresses of the A.A.

Traditions have been set in place to contain us in unity for as

long as God may will it so. Eager hearts and hands have

lifted the spire of our cathedral into its place. That spire

bears the name of Service. May it ever point straight upward

toward God.

"It's not only to the few that we owe the remarkable

developments in our unity and in our ability to carry A.A.'s

message everywhere. It is to the many; indeed, it is to the

labors of all of us that we owe these prime blessings."

Perception of Humility

An improved perception of humility starts a revolutionary

change in our outlook. Our eyes begin to open to the

immense values which have come straight out of painful egopuncturing. Until now, our lives have been largely devoted to

running from pain and problems. Escape via the bottle was

always our solution.

Then, in A.A., we looked and listened. Everywhere we saw

failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless

assets.

To those who have made progress in A.A., humility amounts

to a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed

by a sincere attempt to become what we could be.

TWELVE AND TWELVE

Imagination Can Be Constructive

We recall, a little ruefully, how much store we used to set by

imagination as it tried to create reality out of bottles. Yes, we

reveled in that sort of thinking, didn't we? And, though sober

nowadays, don't we often try to do much the same thing?

Perhaps our trouble was not that we used our imagination.

Perhaps the real trouble was our almost total inability to

point imagination toward the right objectives. There's

nothing the matter with truly constructive imagination; all

sound achievements rests upon it. After all, no man can build

a house until he first visions a plan for it.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 100

Tolerance in Practice

"We found that the principles of tolerance and love had to be

emphasized in actual practice. We can never say (or

insinuate) to anyone that he must agree to our formula or be

excommunicated. The atheist may stand up in an A.A.

meeting still denying the Deity, yet reporting how vastely he

has been changed in attitude and outlook. Much experience

tells us he will presently change his mind about God, but

nobody tells him he must do so.

"In order to carry the principle of inclusiveness and tolerance

still further, we make no religious requirement of anyone. All

people having an alcoholic problem who wish to get rid of it

and so make a happy adjustment with the circumstances of

their lives, become A.A. members by simply associating with

us. Nothing but sincerity is needed. But we do not demand

even this.

"In such an atmosphere the orthodox, the unorthodox, and

the unbeliever mix happily and usefully together. An

opportunity for spiritual growth is open to all."

Between the Extremes

"The real question is whether we can learn anything from our

experiences upon which we may grow and help others to

grow in the likeness and image of God.

"We know that if we rebel against doing that which is

reasonably possible for us, then we will be penalized. And we

will be equally penalized if we presume in ourselves a

perfection that simply is not there.

"Apparently, the course of relative humility and progress will

have to lie somewhere between these extremes. In our slow

progress away from rebellion, true perfection is doubtless

several millennia away."

The Rationalizers and the Self-Effacing

We alcoholics are the biggest rationalizers in the world.

Fortified with the excuse that we are doing great things for

A.A., we can, through broken anonymity, resume our old and

disastrous pursuit of personal power and prestige, public

honors, and money -- the same implacable urges that, when

frustrated, once caused us to drink.

Dr. Bob was essentially a far more humble person than I, and

anonymity came rather easily to him. When it was sure that

he was mortally afflicted, some of his friends suggested that

there should be a monument erected in honor of him and his

wife, Anne -- befitting a founder and his lady. Telling me

about this, Dr. Bob grinned broadly and said, "God bless 'em.

They mean well. But let's you and me get buried just

likeother folks."

In the Akron cementery where Dr. Bob and Anne lie, the

simple stone says not a word about A.A. This final example

of self-effacement is of more permanent worth to A.A. than

any amount of public attention or any great monument.

A.A. COMES OF AGE