How do you obtain Power? When and if you receive Power, how do you use it?
In the spiritual realm, we are all connected. So when I am succeeding, the world is blessed.
There's nothing wrong with, nor is there anything selfish about my needs being met. When I'm receiving Power and using it to solve my problem, all my problems get solved and then not only am I available to help/serve you... but I'm also not some schmuck standing at an intersection begging you for booze money.
Showing posts with label Power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Power. Show all posts
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
So are you still Powerless... or are you now Powerful?
What's with this word Power being thrown around in A.A. discussion?
We came in as powerless, right? Well no shit. If we weren't powerless, we wouldn't have problems with booze amongst many other problems. Now save your "But alcohol is not the problem" rant for a moment or five.
We come into A.A. with that state of consciousness whether we like it or not. It just is. In fact, we may have a myriad of other nasty states of consciousness such as; shame, guilt, apathy, grief, fear, desire, anger, pride...
But low and behold, the first thing we are hit with is that darned Serenity Prayer. We are asked to be granted with acceptance, courage, and wisdom. These states of consciousness are actually out of order... for courage should be first. We are granted courage when we step up to the plate and admit we got a problem with booze and need Power to get past here. We then may grow to the level of consciousness which is neutrality... Neutrality! Remember that one? Then willingness, then acceptance. When we get to acceptance, we not only accept our situation, but we come to accept the world. We see that our problems are of our own making... that love is not something we obtain from out there... but it is produced from within. We get away from the dichotomy of black and white, right and wrong... etc.
From acceptance, we may advance to reason... that which is the place of doctors, Nobel Peace Prize winners, Einsteins, Frauds, etc. But... is that far enough? Not for the alky. The book talks about Reason... and how it is good, but how me must bridge the shore of Reason to Faith... that which does not confuse the symbols for their true meaning. Having interpretted a bunch of data and drawn a false conclusion, Reason does not in itself lead us to Truth. Truth is knowable and attainable.
The real question is, do you want Power? Do you want to get well?
We came in as powerless, right? Well no shit. If we weren't powerless, we wouldn't have problems with booze amongst many other problems. Now save your "But alcohol is not the problem" rant for a moment or five.
We come into A.A. with that state of consciousness whether we like it or not. It just is. In fact, we may have a myriad of other nasty states of consciousness such as; shame, guilt, apathy, grief, fear, desire, anger, pride...
But low and behold, the first thing we are hit with is that darned Serenity Prayer. We are asked to be granted with acceptance, courage, and wisdom. These states of consciousness are actually out of order... for courage should be first. We are granted courage when we step up to the plate and admit we got a problem with booze and need Power to get past here. We then may grow to the level of consciousness which is neutrality... Neutrality! Remember that one? Then willingness, then acceptance. When we get to acceptance, we not only accept our situation, but we come to accept the world. We see that our problems are of our own making... that love is not something we obtain from out there... but it is produced from within. We get away from the dichotomy of black and white, right and wrong... etc.
From acceptance, we may advance to reason... that which is the place of doctors, Nobel Peace Prize winners, Einsteins, Frauds, etc. But... is that far enough? Not for the alky. The book talks about Reason... and how it is good, but how me must bridge the shore of Reason to Faith... that which does not confuse the symbols for their true meaning. Having interpretted a bunch of data and drawn a false conclusion, Reason does not in itself lead us to Truth. Truth is knowable and attainable.
The real question is, do you want Power? Do you want to get well?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Step 2: God
God. That's what it's about. If God=Religion for you, you're in the wrong blog. Because God or an experience with God is not Religion.
From my experience, Step 2 is where you go immediately after a Step 1 experience.
For the alcoholic, there's but one choice; God or booze.
We become very open about the idea of a God that's personal to us, One we can tap into and experience, once we come to terms with our experience and perhaps future with booze, and our willingness to "become willing" to consider our own conception of God.
The book tells us where our "conception" of God is... deep down within ourselves is the "fundamental idea of God".
AA does not corner the market on God. There are many paths. It is said that AA doesn't even corner the market to sobriety. But it's the most successful solution to recover drunks on the planet. It's not the only show in town. It's just the best show in town.
Some people go to church and perhaps get it there. Church is wonderful for some. In fact, the book says that you should stay active in any religious denominations that we are accustomed to or were attending. The religous view of AA is that it should not interfere with any prior or current affiliations whatsoever. AA does not exclude Christians, Muslems, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. AA is just not allied with any particular one. AA is for alcoholics who want to recover. The problem with religion for an alcoholic like me is the fact that... at the end of the day, when they stub their toe, they don't drink. I drink.
So no matter what, I stay plugged into AA. It's that simple for me.
Booze drives me to God. And it's not a fun trip.
From my experience, Step 2 is where you go immediately after a Step 1 experience.
For the alcoholic, there's but one choice; God or booze.
We become very open about the idea of a God that's personal to us, One we can tap into and experience, once we come to terms with our experience and perhaps future with booze, and our willingness to "become willing" to consider our own conception of God.
The book tells us where our "conception" of God is... deep down within ourselves is the "fundamental idea of God".
AA does not corner the market on God. There are many paths. It is said that AA doesn't even corner the market to sobriety. But it's the most successful solution to recover drunks on the planet. It's not the only show in town. It's just the best show in town.
Some people go to church and perhaps get it there. Church is wonderful for some. In fact, the book says that you should stay active in any religious denominations that we are accustomed to or were attending. The religous view of AA is that it should not interfere with any prior or current affiliations whatsoever. AA does not exclude Christians, Muslems, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. AA is just not allied with any particular one. AA is for alcoholics who want to recover. The problem with religion for an alcoholic like me is the fact that... at the end of the day, when they stub their toe, they don't drink. I drink.
So no matter what, I stay plugged into AA. It's that simple for me.
Booze drives me to God. And it's not a fun trip.
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