I guess it’s no mystery, if I were to say that today’s a day to celebrate independence, not just for this country, but for myself. Freedom from the bondage of alcohol.
Today we had two topics, but one of them was all I needed to think about. They wanted to talk about freedom from the bondage of alcohol, but also freedom from the bondage of self. I thought the last one was a little bit over the top. After all, if I hadn’t gotten sober I could forget about freedom from the bondage of self. Except that I would have had that freedom by my death from drinking.
I couldn’t help but go back to that moment in time, when I appealed to my Higher Power to free me from the bondage to alcohol. It really worked. I have never forgotten, when I woke up the next day and the craving, the compulsion, the mental obsession were gone. For the first time in twenty years I didn’t want to drink. Talk about a miracle. A spiritual experience or awakening. It was the beginning of changing my whole life.
I can also remember, and always will, what it felt like to walk into that AA meeting five days later. That feeling of having come home for the first time in my life was remarkable. It almost took my breath away. And then that was followed by the feeling of hope that overcame me, when the members of that group shared their experience, strength, and hope with me. It was wonderful to say the least.
Although it took time, I was to learn about alcoholism and the solution. That the solution was spiritual. A spiritual way of life. And it began with that Second Step. Came to believe in a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. It was that surrender and acceptance that started the process, which would begin the experience of freedom from the bondage of self. The process, which would begin to allow me to become comfortable and accept myself. Even with my character defects, which I fall back into occasionally. Reminding me that I’m still part of the human condition. Nothing special. Just another alcoholic, striving to remain sober a day at a time.
Anyway the group was there to celebrate two independence days. The national holiday and our own freedom from the bondage of alcohol. Couldn’t help but be grateful.