|
|
|
We
are often asked how we dare refer to ourselves as recoverED alcoholics.
The degree of resistance and even anger that this phrase elicits is both
alarming and amusing. This strident and oftentimes emotional reaction may come from
an experience of a fear-based fellowship - it does not come from anything found
in the program. Unfortunately, the
feeling of being threatened by the good news, by the light, tends to limit our
experience of this amazing spiritual adventure. We have even been told that this was the wrong message.
On the contrary, this IS the AA
message because it is THE message of the
Big Book. On
page 45, the Problem is defined as a "lack of power".
The main object of this book is to ".....enable
you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem."
If we follow the planned program of action as outlined in pages 45
through 85, we arrive at perhaps the greatest promise of them all:
"Sanity will have returned....the problem has been removed.
It does not exist for us."
At this juncture of the Process, lack of power moves from WAS our problem
to IS no longer our problem and we have recoverED
from alcoholism by tapping into an "unsuspected inner resource"
through the vehicle of the STEPS. The
theme of the Big Book is permanent recovery.
It simply cannot be misconstrued. But
don't take our word for it. Here
are just a few of the places where the word "recoverED" is used: Title
Page:¾The
Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from
alcoholism XIII: line 4 ¾
To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main
purpose of this book. XV: line 12 ¾
In that brief space.....membership is far above 150,000 recovered
alcoholics. XXIII: line 22 ¾
This man and over one hundred others appear to have recovered. 17: line 3 ¾
Nearly all have recovered. They
have solved the drink problem. 20: line 6 ¾
...we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body. 29: line 3 ¾
Further on, clear cut directions are given showing how we recovered. 44: line 25 ¾
If a mere code of morals...were sufficient...many of us would have recovered
long ago. 90: line 23 ¾
If he says yes....drawn to you as a person who has recovered. 113: line 8 ¾
...thousands of men...have recovered. 132: line 30 ¾
We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others. 133: line 14 ¾
We, who have recovered ... are miracles of mental health. 165: line 2 ¾
Personal Stories. How Forty Three
Alcoholics Recovered From Their Malady RecoverED
does not mean that our physical allergy to alcohol has disappeared.
We are and always will be alcoholic.
We will forever be powerless over the second drink.
It simply means that "as long as we keep in fit spiritual
condition" we will "react sanely and normally" and "We
[will] feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and
protected." RecoverED does not
mean we have been cured. RecoverED
means that we have been given a gift. We
have been given a "daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our
spiritual condition." This
is very , very good news. This
is the news that helps us to learn how to LIVE OUT LOUD.
This is the news that begins our transformation from children of the night to children of the light.
|