Interesting group reaction to a fairly new person today, who brought up the subject “letting go”. A seeming desire to understand that phrase. From the Third Step, I would assume.
Thinking about this in private, although a friend of mine and I talked to a new man today, about this, letting go is a constant subject for someone like me. Surrender, acceptance, and practicing humility with my Higher Power.
Many referred back to the practice of the Serenity Prayer. Again those moments of attempting to let go and let God. Often, as many said, repeating that prayer to at least change their minds.
Being subject to the human condition, far from being perfect or a saint, I find myself often driven back to once again surrendering and having to let go of a character defect of mine. Being a perfect example of an alcoholic personality, how often I find myself driving the bus. It takes waking up to what I am doing and leaving the driver’s seat and going to the back of the bus.
So the idea of letting go is still present in my life and a lot of those, who spoke up today.
My first thought, when I was called on, was what it was like for me, when I was new. Around a month in the program, I had already surrendered in the First Step. Then I ran into a problem these new people run into. Just like I did. Difficulty in taking the next Step and the next one and the next. Each one, as it did for me, required letting go of my resistance. All the while suffering from my physical, mental, and spiritual illness. However the resulting pain and the help of my sponsor got me to do what it said…let go and turn it over to my Higher Power. The God of my understanding.
While meetings like this go on, like so many others I know, we all are hoping these new people will grab onto this program like we all did. That they won’t take a drink today and will come back tomorrow and try again to put into action what’s right in front of them. Just as we do. Or need to.
Funny thing, as I was writing this, someone I know, who is struggling to practice these Steps, though they are not aware that they are, came up to me and discussed this very subject. Pleasant moment. Hard to believe. But, if anything, it made me more aware of the concept of letting go and letting God.
All about staying sober. Makes me grateful for the people and the meetings. Especially the sick and suffering alcoholic, whom we all struggle to pass the message to, that there is a solution. And it’s spiritual.