kobe-ja/AsBillSeesIt · Datasets at Hugging Face

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talk of spiritual discoveries.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 77
To Survive Trials
In our belief, any scheme of combating alcoholism which
proposes wholly to shield the sick man from temptation is
doomed to failure. If the alcoholic tries to shield himself he
may succeed for a time, but he usually winds up with a
bigger explosion than ever. We have tried these methods.
These attempts to do the impossible have always failed.
Release from alcohol, and not flight from it, is our answer.
"Faith without works is dead." And how appallingly true for
the alcoholic! For if an alcoholic fails to perfect and enlarge
his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he
cannot survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he
does not work, he will surely drink again, and if he drinks, he
will surely die. Then faith will be dead indeed.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Experimenters
We agnostics liked A.A. all right, and were quick to say that it
had done miracles. But we recoiled from meditation and
prayer as obstinately as the scientist who refused to perform
a certain experiment lest it prove his pet theory wrong.
When we finally did experiment, and unexpected results
followed, we felt different; in fact, we knew different; and so
we were sold on meditation and prayer. And that, we have
found, can happen to anybody who tries. It has been well
said that "Almost theonly scoffers at prayer are those who
never tried it enough."
TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 97
The A.A. Way in the Home*
Though an alcoholic does not respond, there is no reason
why you should neglect his family. You should continue to
be friendly to them, explaining A.A.'s concept of alcoholism
and its treatment. If they accept this and also apply our
principles to their problems, there is a much better chance
that the head of the family will recover. And even though he
continues to drink, the family will find life more bearable.
Unless a new member's family readily expresses a desire to
live upon spiritual principles, we think he ought not to urge
them. They will change in time. His better behavior will
usually convince them far more than his words.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
* Today, the initiation of the A.A. way of life in the home is
the central purpose of the Al-Anon Family Groups, of which
there are (as of 1978) about 15,300 throughout the world.
These are composed of wives, husbands, and relatives of
alcoholics. In restoring families to the good life, Al-Anon's
success has been enormous.
The Beginning of Humility
"There are few absolute inherent in the Twelve Steps. Most
Steps are open to interpretation, based on the experience
and outlook of the individual.
"Consequently, the individual is free to start the Steps at
whatever point he can, or will. God, as we understand Him,
may be defined as a `Power greater...' or the Higher Power.
For thousands of members, the A.A. group itself has been a
`Higher Power' in the beginning. This acknowledgment is
easy to make if a newcomer knows that most of the members
are sober and he isn't.
"His admission is the beginning of humility -- at least the
newcomer is willing to disclaim that he himself is God. That's
all the start he needs. If, following this achievement, he will
relax and practice as many of the Steps as he can, he is sure
to grow spiritually."
Carrying the Message
The wonderful energy the Twelfth Step releases, by which it
carries our message to the next suffering alcoholic and
finally translates the Twelve Steps into action upon all our
affairs, is the payoff, the magnificent reality of A.A.
Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual
hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his
inspection. Show him how they worked with you. Offer him
friendship and fellowship.
The Spiritual Alibi
Our first attempts at inventories are apt to prove very
unrealistic. I used to be a champ at unrealistic self-appraisal.
On certain occasions, I wanted to look only at the part of my
life which seemed good. Then I would greatly exaggerate
whatever virtues I supposed I had attained. Next I would
congratulate myself on the grand job I was doing in A.A.
Naturally this generated a terrible hankering for still more
"accomplishments," and still more approval. I was falling
straight back into the pattern of my drinking days. Here were
the same old goals -- power, fame, and applause. Besides, I
had the best alibi known -- the spiritual alibi. The fact that I
really did have a spiritual objective made this utter nonsense
seem perfectly right.
GRAPEVINE, JUNE 1961
The Obsession and the Answer
The idea is somehow, some day, he will control and enjoy his
drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker.
The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue
it into the gates of insanity or death.
Alcoholism, not cancer, was my illness, but what was the
difference? Was not alcoholism also a consumer of body and
mind? Alcoholism took longer to do its killing, but the result
was the same. So, I decided, if there was a great Physician
who could cure the alcoholic sickness, I had better seek Him
at once.
The Language of the Heart

talk of spiritual discoveries.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 77

To Survive Trials

In our belief, any scheme of combating alcoholism which

proposes wholly to shield the sick man from temptation is

doomed to failure. If the alcoholic tries to shield himself he

may succeed for a time, but he usually winds up with a

bigger explosion than ever. We have tried these methods.

These attempts to do the impossible have always failed.

Release from alcohol, and not flight from it, is our answer.

"Faith without works is dead." And how appallingly true for

the alcoholic! For if an alcoholic fails to perfect and enlarge

his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he

cannot survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he

does not work, he will surely drink again, and if he drinks, he

will surely die. Then faith will be dead indeed.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Experimenters

We agnostics liked A.A. all right, and were quick to say that it

had done miracles. But we recoiled from meditation and

prayer as obstinately as the scientist who refused to perform

a certain experiment lest it prove his pet theory wrong.

When we finally did experiment, and unexpected results

followed, we felt different; in fact, we knew different; and so

we were sold on meditation and prayer. And that, we have

found, can happen to anybody who tries. It has been well

said that "Almost theonly scoffers at prayer are those who

never tried it enough."

TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 97

The A.A. Way in the Home*

Though an alcoholic does not respond, there is no reason

why you should neglect his family. You should continue to

be friendly to them, explaining A.A.'s concept of alcoholism

and its treatment. If they accept this and also apply our

principles to their problems, there is a much better chance

that the head of the family will recover. And even though he

continues to drink, the family will find life more bearable.

Unless a new member's family readily expresses a desire to

live upon spiritual principles, we think he ought not to urge

them. They will change in time. His better behavior will

usually convince them far more than his words.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

* Today, the initiation of the A.A. way of life in the home is

the central purpose of the Al-Anon Family Groups, of which

there are (as of 1978) about 15,300 throughout the world.

These are composed of wives, husbands, and relatives of

alcoholics. In restoring families to the good life, Al-Anon's

success has been enormous.

The Beginning of Humility

"There are few absolute inherent in the Twelve Steps. Most

Steps are open to interpretation, based on the experience

and outlook of the individual.

"Consequently, the individual is free to start the Steps at

whatever point he can, or will. God, as we understand Him,

may be defined as a `Power greater...' or the Higher Power.

For thousands of members, the A.A. group itself has been a

`Higher Power' in the beginning. This acknowledgment is

easy to make if a newcomer knows that most of the members

are sober and he isn't.

"His admission is the beginning of humility -- at least the

newcomer is willing to disclaim that he himself is God. That's

all the start he needs. If, following this achievement, he will

relax and practice as many of the Steps as he can, he is sure

to grow spiritually."

Carrying the Message

The wonderful energy the Twelfth Step releases, by which it

carries our message to the next suffering alcoholic and

finally translates the Twelve Steps into action upon all our

affairs, is the payoff, the magnificent reality of A.A.

Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual

hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his

inspection. Show him how they worked with you. Offer him

friendship and fellowship.

The Spiritual Alibi

Our first attempts at inventories are apt to prove very

unrealistic. I used to be a champ at unrealistic self-appraisal.

On certain occasions, I wanted to look only at the part of my

life which seemed good. Then I would greatly exaggerate

whatever virtues I supposed I had attained. Next I would

congratulate myself on the grand job I was doing in A.A.

Naturally this generated a terrible hankering for still more

"accomplishments," and still more approval. I was falling

straight back into the pattern of my drinking days. Here were

the same old goals -- power, fame, and applause. Besides, I

had the best alibi known -- the spiritual alibi. The fact that I

really did have a spiritual objective made this utter nonsense

seem perfectly right.

GRAPEVINE, JUNE 1961

The Obsession and the Answer

The idea is somehow, some day, he will control and enjoy his

drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker.

The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue

it into the gates of insanity or death.

Alcoholism, not cancer, was my illness, but what was the

difference? Was not alcoholism also a consumer of body and

mind? Alcoholism took longer to do its killing, but the result

was the same. So, I decided, if there was a great Physician

who could cure the alcoholic sickness, I had better seek Him

at once.

The Language of the Heart