Courage is not a subject we often speak about, but someone brought it up today in relation to dealing with others. Most of us admitted that, when we were still drinking the only courage we had came from a bottle. Otherwise we lacked courage. And that was evident, after we stopped drinking. Fear dominated many. I know it was present in me.
After being sober a while, courage finally came back. Or maybe for the first time. All of that was based on, for me, my surrender to the First and Second Steps. Particularly the Second. Hope brought me into faith and it was my faith and trust in my Higher Power which began to eliminate fear. That and the rest of the Twelve Steps. And it still works that way for me.
Anyway one of the people responding to the person, who asked about achieving courage, talked about one of the Promises. The one that states that we will intuitively know how to handle situations, which formerly baffled us. He recommended working toward that promise. I thought about that for a second and remembered what my sponsor and others told me about that promise.Though it might come along, as stated, the question comes up how would I know it was real? Of course it might not take much for me to presume that I was operating on intuition. And that could be disastrous.
It was pointed out to me that, if I thought I was given intuition, before I followed though on it, I should let my sponsor or someone know what it was that I had decided to do. At least I would have some feedback on what I thought. At least to stop and step back and think about what it was that I felt was true. Otherwise I might just being unwittingly stupid. And, of course, when in doubt, don’t. Always good advice for someone like me.
Then, just as often, like so many others, I am reminded of the Serenity Prayer. Asking God to give me the courage to change the things I can. And there it is. The power of prayer in all of this. I know that’s where I go, when I need the help to proceed and take the needed actions in my life. Prayer and faith are part of how I am able to live this program each day. I know it’s true of those I have worked with over time. It’s how I have come to deal with fear. That and learning to deal with my feelings. Not letting my emotions run my life.
Once again the solution to all of this is spiritual. And like the BB tells us, the spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.