One of the things I was thinking about today was the solution to our problems. A lot of people at the meeting were doing post mortums on their relationships. Almost sounded like a wake. Besides, what is a roomful of alcoholics doing talking about relationships? In the BB it told us what these relationships and the alcoholic was like. Something to the effect that we loved but few, were indifferent to the many, and hated the rest. Sounds about right.
In the 12&12, Bill tells us that it is from our broken and twisted realtionships with family, friends, and society at large that we have suffered the most. He tells us the truth, when he says that we were unable to form true partnerships in our relations. In the end, all we can talk about is how all these relationships failed. A lot of work to do through practicing these 12 Steps and finding a way to correct what was wrong with us.
The man who brought this subject up, must not have been too clear, when he stated what he wanted to hear from others. He said he wanted to talk about our primary purpose and stay sober through what seems to be a chaotic relationship. Unfortunately he related it to his failing marriage, which he went on at length to describe. Our primary purpose and how we stay sober got lost in the telling.
Afterward the man came up and wanted to talk. I told him that there was a solution to his alcoholic problem, if he wanted to stay sober. He told me that he was just reading that part in the BB. I suggested that he read the next two chapters, particularly the chapter We Agnostics, about the beginning of a spiritual solution to all our problems.
Later I went out to lunch with a man, who is beginning to feel the pinch from our current state of the economy. But he stopped and said that he knew he could stay sober, because he has seen the evidence in the rooms of others like himself, who were staying sober. He said he saw the peace and serenity they were experiencing and showing in their own lives. The fact that they really enjoyed and were happy in their lives in sobriety, despite what was going on in their lives daily.
This is really what I was thinking about. How this program has worked for me. And how it works for all of us, if we practice maintaining our primary purpose. Trying to practice these principles in all of our affairs. Starting our day by praying “Thy will not my will be done.” And giving thanks for all the blessings which sobriety has given to us. If I do this, I know from my own experience that my relationships with others will improve, each day I stay sober. I know that, by applying the spiritual principles of this program to my problems, they become manageable and are eventually solved.