February 2022

A spiritual awakening begins the moment a person can step back and awake to their life with a sense of being in the world .When the spiritual malady is solved, we straighten out mentally and physically.

For me to describe a spiritual awakening in a short article about my time in AA would be hard. A few short paragraphs describe what happened to me.

In There is a Solution (BB, pgs. 17-29), “We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that really works.”

From Appendix II: For me my spiritual experiences have been of the educational variety because they developed slowly over a period of time. They said take what you want and leave the rest. Well the rest is still there in the book. My attitude and outlook on life continues to change over time.

I feel connected with others and nature. I have gratitude. To think and act not from fears but spontaneously. Insist upon enjoying life. Improve my conscious contact with God. Take care of myself. Learn to let go . Explore new ideas. Peace of mind. An inward search for life and self.

In Working with Others (BB, pgs.89-103): “Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends-this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.”

The Promises (BB, pgs. 83-84). When I pay cash for something I never get any change, They tell me change comes from within,

-Mark L., the Florida Flounder

Never say “No” to AA. Haven’t we all heard that before? I know I surely have. As a newbie in the program, I would (silently) roll my eyes and think, “Doesn’t he or she know how busy my life is?” I just didn’t get it then, but I know now how valuable that twelfth step is and how it continues to fuel my sobriety and serenity one day at a time.

Twelfth step work isn’t work, it’s a blessing and an opportunity for me to share my experience, strength and hope with my brothers and sisters in AA and it allows me to grow in my own sobriety. But more importantly, it brings me closer to my Higher Power and to others both in and out of the program. Doesn’t matter the type of Step 12 work I’m doing. Whether I’m working with another alcoholic, sharing in a meeting, doing a 12-step call, or editing this newsletter, I’m hearing and seeing what I need to remain a sober and grateful alcoholic who is able to give back to the program that which was freely given to me.

Like the step says, it’s only as a result of working all “these steps” (yes, that means all twelve) that we experience a spiritual awakening. I need that today more than ever in order to maintain my physical and emotional sobriety, to remain teachable, help others, and stay connected to my Higher Power.

-Gail C., Hebron Tuesday Night

In tennis, as in life, sometimes you are the racket, sometimes the ball, and sometimes the net. Tradition 4, “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.” With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the Trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.

Tradition 8, “Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional but our service centers may employ special work- ers.” We define professionalism as the occupation of counseling alcoholics for fees or hire. But we may employ alcoholics where they are going to perform those services for which we might otherwise have to engage nonalcoholics. Such special services may be well recompensed. But our usual A.A. "12th Step" work is never to be paid for.

Tradition 9, “AA as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.” Each A.A. groups needs the least possible organization. Rotating leadership is the best. The small group may elect its Secretary, the large group its Rotating Committee, and the groups of a large Metropolitan area their Central or Inter- group Committee, which often employs a full-time Secretary. The trustees of the General Service Board are, in effect, our A.A. General Service Committee. They are the custodians of our A.A. Traditions and the receivers of voluntary A.A. contributions by which we maintain our A.A. General Service Office at New York. They are authorized by the groups to handle our over-all public relations and they guarantee the integrity of our magazine, "The A.A. Grapevine." All such representatives are to be guided in the spirit of service, for true leaders A.A. are but trusted and experienced servants of the whole. They derive no real authority from their titles; they do not govern. Universal respect is the key to their usefulness.

-Mark L., the Florida Flounder

When we “carry the message” in Step 12, “we experience the kind of giving that asks no rewards… It is the kind of love that has no price tag on it.” (12 & 12, p. 106) Dr. Bob said that trying to help another alcoholic is a way to repay the people who helped us get sober and to “take out a little more insurance for ourselves against a possible slip.” (BB, p. 181) I help by sharing my own experience, strength, and hope in meetings or one-on-one. I make myself available to take calls or give rides. I pitch in with little chores to keep my home group running.

Each of these action steps forces me to get out of myself. I must overcome my own inertia and selfishness, the urge to sit back and be just a spectator in AA. I like the definition of love by Scott Peck, the psychiatrist: “The will to extend oneself for the pur- pose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth…. The act of extending one’s limits implies effort. Love is not effort- less. To the contrary, love is effortful.”

12th Step work quickly shows me I can’t get anyone sober. Looking back, I have more “failures” than successes in trying to help other alcoholics. But the act of trying to help has kept me sober.

My sponsor also has always stressed that sobriety should empower me to live life more fully and to be of service outside of AA, as well as in the rooms. This is how Bill W. put it: “Each of us in turn - that is, the member who gets the most out of the pro- gram - spends a very large amount of time on Twelfth Step work in the early years. That was my case, and perhaps I could not have stayed sober with less work.

“I just know that you are expected, at some point, to do more than carry the message of A.A. to other alcoholics. In A.A., we aim not only for sobriety - we try again to become citizens of the world that we rejected, and of the world that once rejected us. This is the ultimate demonstration toward which Twelfth Step work is the first, but not the final step.” (Bill W. 1959 Letter, quoted in As Bill Sees It, p.21)

Whom did I try to help today? Am I giving all I should to my family, my coworkers, my friends outside of AA? When this past week did I stretch myself to consider others’ needs – and take action to be of service? These are questions I can carry into my daily inventory, trusting that my Higher Power will guide me to use my unique gifts to “carry the message.”

-Kevin P., Northside Wednesday Night Group

Before joining AA, I never thought much about the big picture of life. What’s the point of all this living. Do we just go through each day trudging along until we don’t? Before AA, I did kinda go through the motions of participating and responsi- ble actions. Sure, I played the role of husband and father, went to work every day, coached my kids in sports, and even went to church. But my heart was never in it, only my head. I did what I was supposed to do and looked how I was supposed to look. From the outside, I was doing all the right things but wasn’t connected to anything but myself.

With the help of the first 11 Steps, I have been able to put the past behind me, not worry (too much) about the future, and try hard to stay in this day. This allows me to be in the moment and actually listen when someone else is speaking. Step 12 states that we try to carry the AA message to our fellow alcoholics and practice the principles of the first 11 Steps in ALL our affairs. Tall order, if you ask me, and probably not possible without daily help from my Higher Power (which I choose to call God).

There are two distinct parts to this Step. Carrying the AA message is the ultimate win-win. Not only can we hopefully help another alcoholic, but we also keep our head in the AA arena which therefore helps us. Sponsorship is the main way to carry the message, but not nearly the only way. Sharing before, during and after a meeting can help any number of fellow AA mem- bers. Just smiling, listening and being happy at a meeting makes a statement that there is hope on the horizon.

The second part of this step, “practice these principles in all our affairs,” forces the alcoholic to seek to be more honest, toler- ant, unselfish and loving with everyone we encounter. This reversal of attitudes from me me me to you you you gives me a completely different outlook on life. I can for the first time feel your pain and share your joy. I can be “part of” instead of just watching life go by. What an extraordinary gift and one I will forever be grateful to have received. Thanks AA.

-Mick S., Hardrock