Ego, we, me, and how to treat myself and others. In other words, how this program works. I mean, how do we possibly stay sober with ourselves in the way?
Kind of where the meetings was today. That and what and how this program works and what spirituality is.
First, the easy part came to mind. In How It Works it tells us how this program works and why. It tells us this is the how and the why of it. I’m told that first I have to stop playing God and that next I need to get a new director. Not me. I’ve got to get out of the way.
And that made me go back and think about the Seventh Step in the 12&12. Humility. I have to stop putting the God of my understanding on the bench, like a bush league pinch hitter. I have to place him in charge. Like a friend of mine always says, I have to go to the back of the bus and let God do the driving.
If I can accept all of this, then I believe I have entered into a spiritual way of life. My thought anyway. The problem is always me. Sometimes I don’t want God at the head of my life. Sometimes I don’t want to do what I think His will for me might be. Sometimes I don’t want to seek a conscious contact or meditate, or even pray.
That’s one of my biggest character defects. My ego. My pride. And when it shows up, I have to start all over again. Getting a little humility back into my life. Going to a meeting and talking to another sober alcoholic and listening for the answer.
Talking to others and listening to them, how they all have the same problems, fumbling, and stumbling along, I begin to experience the “we” of this program. I’m not alone. The help is there and I can get back on track.
I think it’s wonderful that we have that First Tradition. We can put our selfishness aside for the good of the whole. Concentrate on alcoholism for us alcoholics and have meetings, where we can go and hear the solution. Where would we be without it?