Today a friend of mine told me how much she valued the Second Step. She told me that before the meeting began. And then as part of the two subjects today a recently sober young man wanted to talk about the Third Step. Followed by another person with the Eighth Step.
The meeting turned out to be a good one for most of us I heard talking afterwards. I know it was encouraging for me. Most of the respondents sharing talked about the process of going through that Second Step before arriving at the Third. I could identify with that, as I know my friend did.
I thought about how many I knew over time, who elected to make the group their Higher Power. Most of them as time passed evolved into a belief in a God of their understanding. Although a couple I know still have the program as their Higher Power. Me? I still believe what the BB tells me. I’m not here to teach anyone about what I believe in. It’s up to each individual to determine for themselves what they believe, as long as it makes sense to them.
I still remember the awful experience Bill W. himself had very early on in the beginning of the program. He tried to get others to believe what he believed and ended up driving many a man away from the program. He wrote later how disappointed he was in himself for what he had done and regretted the loss of those men for what he called his spiritual pride. Probably the reason why those words are in the chapter Working With Others.
Anyway I guess I set the group up for a big laugh, when I explained my difficulties with entering the spiritual way of life, because of my background. I had studied to be a priest and left the major seminary after some conflicts in faith. One of the members remarked they were glad I didn’t get ordained, because who would want to go to confession with me. Brought the house down. I had to laugh at myself.
Just thinking about the help we all get from our Higher Power to grow along spiritual lines and stay sober. Have a lot to be thankful for.