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Clearly, our first duty to A.A.'s future is to maintain in full
strength what we now have. Only the most vigilant
caretaking can assure this. Never should we be lulled into
complacent self-satisfaction by the wide acclaim and
success that are everywhere ours. This is the subtle
temptation which could render us stagnant today, perchance
disintegrate us tomorrow. We have always rallied to meet
and transcend failure and crisis. Problems have been our
stimulants. How well, though, shall we be able to meet the
problems of success?
Reason -- a Bridge to Faith
We were squarely confronted with the question of faith. We
couldn't duck the issue. Some of us had already walked
along the bridge of reason toward the desired shore of faith,
where friendly hands had stretched out in welcome. We were
grateful that reason had brought us so far. But, somehow, we
couldn't quite step ashore. Perhaps we had been relying too
heavily on Reason that last mile, and we did not like to lose
our support.
Yet without knowing it, had we not been brought to where we
stood by a certain kind of faith? For did we not believe in our
own reasoning? Did we not have confidence in our ability to
think? What was that but a sort of faith? Yes, we had been
faithful, abjectly faithful to the god of reason. So, in one way
or another, we discovered that faith had been involved all the
time!
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 53-54
Never the Same Again
It was discovered that when one alcoholic had planted in the
mind of another the true nature of his malady, that person
could never be the same again. Following every spree, he
would say to himself, "Maybe those A.A.'s were right." After a
few such experiences, often before the onset of extreme
difficulties, he would return to us convinced.
In the first years, those of us who sobered up in A.A. had
been grim and utterly hopeless cases. But then we began to
have success with milder alcoholics and even some potential
alcoholics. Younger folks appeared. Lots of people turned up
who still had jobs, homes, health, and even good social
standing.
Of course, it was necessary for these newcomers to hit
bottom emotionally. But they did not have to hit every
possible bottom in order to admit that they were licked.
Out of Bondage
At Step Three, many of us said to our Maker, as we
understood Him: "God, I offer myself to Thee -- to build with
me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the
bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my
difficulties, that transcendence over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way
of life. May I do Thy will always!"
We thought well before taking this Step, making sure we
were ready. Then we could commence to abandon ourselves
utterly to Him.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 63
Reaching for Humility
We saw we needn't always be bludgeoned and beaten into
humility. It could come quite as much from our voluntary
reaching for it as it could from unremitting suffering.
"We first reach for a little humility, knowing that we shall
perish of alcoholism if we do not. After a time, though we
may still rebel somewhat, we commence to practice humility
because this is the right thing to do. Then comes the day
when, finally freed in large degree from rebellion, we practice
humility because we deeply want it as a way of life."
Faith and Action
Your prospect's religious education and training may be far
superior to yours. In that case, he is going to wonder how
you can add anything to what he already knows.
But he will be curious to learn why his own convictions have
not worked and why yours seem to work so well. He may be
an example of the truth that faith alone is insufficient. To be
vital, faith must be accompanied by self sacrifice and
unselfish, constructive action.
Admit that he probably knows more about religion than you
do, but remind him that, however deep his faith and
knowledge, these qualities could not have served him well,
or he would not be asking your help.
Dr. Bob did not need me for his spiritual instruction. He had
already had more of that than I. What he did need, when we
first met, was the deflation at depth and the understanding
that only one drunk can give to another. What I needed was
the humility of self-forgetfulness and the kinship with
another human being of my own kind.
Complete the Housecleaning
Time after time, newcomers have tried to keep to themselves
shoddy facts about their lives. Trying to avoid the humbling
experience of the Fifth Step, they have turned to easier
methods. Almost invariably they got drunk. Having
persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why
they fell.
We think the reason is that they never completed their
housecleaning. They took inventory all right, but hung on to
some of the worst items in stock. They only thought they had
lost their egoism and fear; they only thought they had
humbled themselves. But they had not learned enough of
humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it
necessary, until they told someone else all their life story.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 72-73
Only Try

Clearly, our first duty to A.A.'s future is to maintain in full

strength what we now have. Only the most vigilant

caretaking can assure this. Never should we be lulled into

complacent self-satisfaction by the wide acclaim and

success that are everywhere ours. This is the subtle

temptation which could render us stagnant today, perchance

disintegrate us tomorrow. We have always rallied to meet

and transcend failure and crisis. Problems have been our

stimulants. How well, though, shall we be able to meet the

problems of success?

Reason -- a Bridge to Faith

We were squarely confronted with the question of faith. We

couldn't duck the issue. Some of us had already walked

along the bridge of reason toward the desired shore of faith,

where friendly hands had stretched out in welcome. We were

grateful that reason had brought us so far. But, somehow, we

couldn't quite step ashore. Perhaps we had been relying too

heavily on Reason that last mile, and we did not like to lose

our support.

Yet without knowing it, had we not been brought to where we

stood by a certain kind of faith? For did we not believe in our

own reasoning? Did we not have confidence in our ability to

think? What was that but a sort of faith? Yes, we had been

faithful, abjectly faithful to the god of reason. So, in one way

or another, we discovered that faith had been involved all the

time!

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 53-54

Never the Same Again

It was discovered that when one alcoholic had planted in the

mind of another the true nature of his malady, that person

could never be the same again. Following every spree, he

would say to himself, "Maybe those A.A.'s were right." After a

few such experiences, often before the onset of extreme

difficulties, he would return to us convinced.

In the first years, those of us who sobered up in A.A. had

been grim and utterly hopeless cases. But then we began to

have success with milder alcoholics and even some potential

alcoholics. Younger folks appeared. Lots of people turned up

who still had jobs, homes, health, and even good social

standing.

Of course, it was necessary for these newcomers to hit

bottom emotionally. But they did not have to hit every

possible bottom in order to admit that they were licked.

Out of Bondage

At Step Three, many of us said to our Maker, as we

understood Him: "God, I offer myself to Thee -- to build with

me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the

bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my

difficulties, that transcendence over them may bear witness

to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way

of life. May I do Thy will always!"

We thought well before taking this Step, making sure we

were ready. Then we could commence to abandon ourselves

utterly to Him.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 63

Reaching for Humility

We saw we needn't always be bludgeoned and beaten into

humility. It could come quite as much from our voluntary

reaching for it as it could from unremitting suffering.

"We first reach for a little humility, knowing that we shall

perish of alcoholism if we do not. After a time, though we

may still rebel somewhat, we commence to practice humility

because this is the right thing to do. Then comes the day

when, finally freed in large degree from rebellion, we practice

humility because we deeply want it as a way of life."

Faith and Action

Your prospect's religious education and training may be far

superior to yours. In that case, he is going to wonder how

you can add anything to what he already knows.

But he will be curious to learn why his own convictions have

not worked and why yours seem to work so well. He may be

an example of the truth that faith alone is insufficient. To be

vital, faith must be accompanied by self sacrifice and

unselfish, constructive action.

Admit that he probably knows more about religion than you

do, but remind him that, however deep his faith and

knowledge, these qualities could not have served him well,

or he would not be asking your help.

Dr. Bob did not need me for his spiritual instruction. He had

already had more of that than I. What he did need, when we

first met, was the deflation at depth and the understanding

that only one drunk can give to another. What I needed was

the humility of self-forgetfulness and the kinship with

another human being of my own kind.

Complete the Housecleaning

Time after time, newcomers have tried to keep to themselves

shoddy facts about their lives. Trying to avoid the humbling

experience of the Fifth Step, they have turned to easier

methods. Almost invariably they got drunk. Having

persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why

they fell.

We think the reason is that they never completed their

housecleaning. They took inventory all right, but hung on to

some of the worst items in stock. They only thought they had

lost their egoism and fear; they only thought they had

humbled themselves. But they had not learned enough of

humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it

necessary, until they told someone else all their life story.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PP. 72-73

Only Try