December 2023

In June 2016 I returned to NKY from a seek and destroy myself mission thattook me to the beautiful beaches of Florida, Houston, TX and darkest places of my soul. Squatting in my deceased mother’s house, that was in the foreclosure process, I found the bottom of the bottle for the very first time.

While inside the walls of my mother’s house I had electricity, shelter and 2 wi-fi signals that only existed inside that house. I roamed the neighborhood looking for the source to no avail. For 6 months I had everything necessary to spiral into the depths of misery and despair and I did just that.

By December, the few people I had left in my life were tired of watching me kill myself slowly and suggested that I enter a treatment program for alcohol-ism. Perhaps a hospital stay was necessary for me. Being the people pleasing man I am I took that suggestion and called a treatment center in Georgetown,KY and made arrangements for them to pick me up 2 days before Christmas2016.

That morning a few hours before the van was scheduled to arrive I became nervous and scared. I was also out of booze, money, food and apparently options. Nevertheless I thought it best if I postpone my surrender till after that Christmas holiday, for who wants to be locked up in an asylum for Christ-mas?!?! How would Santa find me there to deliver my bourbon?

I grabbed my phone, which was only able to work while connected to the free God given wi-fi signals inside the house, but the signals were gone. In a panic I jumped from floor and threw off my sash desperately pacing the house to find the signal that had been readily available for months but was now MIA. Nothing.

Suddenly the electric heater shut off and the house went eerily silent. I peered out the window to find a Duke Energy truck pulling off the driveway. The jig was up and the electric had finally been disconnected. A car circled the cul-de-sac and a woman approached the mailbox, put something inside and drive off. When the coast was clear I retrieved the letter and it was a business card with a note that said: “Andy, call me I knew your mother and the house has been sold at the courthouse today.

”Call her, how could I? I can’t even cancel the order for a ride to rehab. What felt like a few short minutes later a white van pulled onto the driveway and gave a couple of honks.

I had 2 choices: 1. Go to treatment for Christmas. 2. Freeze to death for Christmas.

I guess I’ll go to treatment for Christmas. Tho it was not my first or my last attempt at getting sober, it was indeed the beginning stage of a surrender that would produce the fruit that is my sober life of abundance I live today. Truly a miracle in every sense of the word.

I am reminded of that day every Christmas since and it’s with gratitude and love that I thank the God of my understanding for that blessing.

God Bless us every one.

- Andrew M.

When I came into AA, I was from a generation where most people had grown up within some type of religious environment. Today, researchers tell us that the majority of folks under 50 belong to the category of “nones” – that is, they were never exposed to religious practices in their family and have no set beliefs now as adults. We live in a “post-religion” culture and AA is not immune to that.

I had never gone fully over to agnosticism or atheism. I still believed in a Higher Power – but, as Bill said, “I couldn’t let God into my life.” My faith, such as it was, had insufficient strength to help me out of my alcoholic unmanageability and chaos.

“Sometimes A.A. comes harder to those who have lost or rejected faith than to those who never had any faith at all, for they think they have tried faith and found it wanting.” (12 & 12, p.28)

My struggle was to align my behavior with my beliefs. My sponsor early on pointed out that I had been “a hypocrite” in my drinking – believing in a Higher Power while staying selfish and inflicting damage on others, through my anger and “reckless romancing.” How could I start acting on the values I professed?

AA helped me to find “a way out” that embraced both the Steps and a renewed appreciation for the religious heritage that had been passed onto me. Other alcoholics find everything they need in the fellowship and the 12 Steps of recovery. AA is a “big tent.” No one spiritual or religious practice is required.

There is less sharing in AA that has a bitter tone about early negative church experience. Fewer folks even go to church now. Yet we can help each other by telling our own stories of how some sort of “spiritual experience” has gotten and kept us sober. It never helped to hear someone bitterly describe being a “recovering Baptist or Catholic,” as if anyone who still attended religious services was ignorant and uneducated. Nor does it support anyone’s recovery to impose my own beliefs. None of us gets or stays sober alone. We’re walking on a journey together.

“Love and tolerance is our code” – especially in these matters of faith.

-Kevin P.
Northside Tuesday Night Group

AA has some really good ideas about how to properly start your day. I agree with them but can’t get myself mentally, physically or spiritually awake enough in the morning to accomplish them. For those of you who can hit your knees immediately upon awakening, I say, “God Bless You.” You see, I’m getting old and my first thoughts are not about God but my body functions and aches.

I do believe that the important idea when starting your day is to create and prioritize some place and time in your morning routine that includes God. I don’t think that God cares where, He just cares when. For me, once I’ve gone to the restroom, washed my hands and face and made a cup of coffee from our Keurig, I have a corner in the kitchen where I can lean against the counter, sip coffee and have my morning conversation with my God. I’m lucky enough that my wife sleeps in a little longer than me so this mono-mono is usually before she starts her day.

My morning prayer ritual is divided into 2 parts: the first is to thank God for this day (I believe in an attitude of gratitude.) Second is, I mentally go through a list of my family (AA and otherwise) and see if there is something I should add to my “Today List” for things they need. This could be anything from physical help, to prayers, and a phone call from me.

I then try to Stop, enjoy my coffee and listen to think if there is anything I missed that should be on my “Today List.” I’m lucky enough to have heard Richard Rohr discuss meditation time and how he (and most everyone) will get thoughts about anything other than contemplation (meditation). He explained that this is normal and you should allow those thoughts to complete and then go back to meditating. It’s okay that you think about you and what you want or what you’re not getting or anything else as long as you don’t stay there. God understands how difficult it is to stay focused.

-Mick S

Why did the coffee file a police report? It got mugged in rehab!

Recovery’s like a broken pencil. Pointless? No, just needs a little sharpening.

Why did the tomato turn red? It saw the salad dressing in therapy!

“I’m on a whiskey diet. I’ve lost three days already!”

Why did the scarecrow win an award? He was outstanding in his rehab field!

“I told my therapist I broke up with my gym. We just weren’t working out.”

Why did the bicycle stand on its own? It was two-tired of addiction!

“I quit my addiction cold turkey. Now I’m just addicted to turkey.”

Why did the computer keep freezing? It had too many open tabs in therapy!

“My therapist said I have a preoccupation with vengeance. We’ll see about that!”

Why did the math book look sad? It had too many problems to recover from!

“I told my therapist I feel like a deck of cards. She said I should deal with it.”

Understanding Step 2 of AA and Its Purpose in Your Recovery Process “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” As you embark on Step 2 of AA, you’ll need an open mind. You need to envision a rebirth, as you end the behaviors of your past life and start fresh with faith in a higher power and the guiding principles of AA. The time you spend on AA Step 2 will depend on different factors, such as your commitment to sobriety. This step may also take longer if you have a hard time believing in a higher power or forms of spirituality, but remember, this step doesn’t mean you need to find religion.AA Step 2 lays the foundation for the successful completion of Steps 3–12 and requires you to accept outside help - a higher power, a sponsor, a therapist, a friend, therapeutic treatment, or another type of greater power—to control their destructive drinking behaviors with an eye toward the long-term solution of recovery. What Does A Higher Power Mean in the Context of AA? AA members may take innumerable, different routes on their quest for a higher power.

AA Step 2 encourages you to discover your own path to faith, spirituality, or even religion. Determine what lights your fire to remain committed to your sobriety.

If you’re unsure what “higher power” you want to believe and commit to, here are some examples:

Believing in a deity or a god: When you believe in this type of higher power, it’s likely intricately linked to your religion. Whether your higher power is Akal Murat, Allah, Buddha, God, Shiva, or Yahweh, you’re welcoming a helping hand to assist in your recovery.

Trusting in nature: Since the beginning of time, civilizations have tapped into the healing properties of nature. Nature has the potential to heal our mind, body, and spirit. When you consume alcohol, you’re often disconnected from the environment. You can use nature as your higher power to awake your senses to your surroundings.

Embracing the laws of science: If you’re keener to science than religion, you can use it to your advantage on your path to recovery. For the past century, scientists have been studying drugs and drug use. Science has broadened our knowledge of substance use disorders. You can use this knowledge to remind yourself addiction isn’t a moral flaw or a lack of willpower. You can always embrace the science of drugs, brains, and human behaviors to help with your sobriety.

Having faith in your moral principles: Maybe you’re driven by your moral principles, which might include the love of your country or your civic obligations, for example. You can take pride in being a nice person and citizen and let it change your relationship with the world. Placing your confidence in AA: If you’re reluctant to changing your beliefs or embracing religion, you can believe in the unity of your support group. This might be your friends, family, or even the people you meet in AA. You’ll notice a lot of change and growth of members through AA meetings. You can use this as the power greater than yourself.

Whatever works for you as your “higher power,” use it and embrace it. This is the faith that’ll drive your progress forward as you continue your journey through AA. According to Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (1981), “…Alcoholics Anonymous does not demand that you believe anything. … all you really need is a truly open mind” (p. 26). Whether you’re a Christian, a worshiper of another religion, a humanist, or an atheist, there’s still a place for you to recover in AA