Cunning, baffling, and powerful. A perfect description of alcohol for the diseased alcoholic like myself. That was obvious today with one of our members, who spoke up and described what was going on with them. The drink was going through their heads like flashes of lightening.
When others were talking to this person, who has had many years in this program, it reminded me of the Fifth Tradition. The primary purpose of the group to carry the AA message to the alcoholic, who still suffers. Perfect description. Here was a person with a lot of years, who was suffering, as much as a newcomer.
Just a reminder that there is no cure for this disease of alcoholism. I may not be thinking of a drink, but the disease is still there deep down within me. Without putting this program into action, practicing these principles in all of my affairs, I get closer to danger. The drink is always there. It may be just around the corner for a lot of us. If I’m not paying attention. I think most of us have seen others, who got careless and picked up a drink again. I’d better be paying attention and relying on my Higher Power.
I was forced to recall why I had to make that decision to get an open mind and begin to put this program into action in my life. There I was not drinking, not thinking of a drink, but that’s all I was doing in the beginning. That’s when I was introduced to the Second Step. I had done the First. I had surrendered to my being powerless over alcohol and certainly had no question about the unmanageable life I brought into the doors of this program. But a spiritual way of living? Not for me I thought. And there it was in the BB. Either live a spiritual life or die and alcoholic death. I had been there on the latter. I never wanted to drink again. So I surrendered once more. This time to a Power greater than myself.
I looked at this person today. I have known them for years and care for them very much. An alcoholic like myself, struggling with the fear and anxiety of taking a drink again. Facing the cunning, baffling, and powerful enemy of the alcoholic. Like others I shared my own experiences and the solution. The Second and Third Steps. The Eleventh. The spiritual answer I and so many others must put into action each and everyday. To assure them by reinforcing the message we all must hear as often as we can. That, if I work this program, put it into action each and everyday that I won’t drink. The restoration to sanity.
Listening to others today I know that their hearts went out to this person. I know that mine did. Like talking to so many alcoholics over time I have learned that’s all I ever can do. If someone doesn’t want to listen they won’t. I pray that they did and that everything will be all right. That the anxiety and fear will leave them and that their prayers will be answered and that peace of mind and serenity will return. The new freedom and the new happiness we found in here will be theirs.
Glad we all had the opportunity to share and stay sober.