We were talking about the bondage of self at the meeting today. “Relieve me of the bondage of self…” That’s a request many alcoholics recite every day in the Third Step prayer. Nice thought and nice prayer. But after we say it, what do we do ourselves to implement that?
I came home from the meeting and as I was sitting down to write this, I caught a news item on the internet about an eleven year old boy, who had two weeks to live. He was dying from leukemia. His last thoughts and his last wish was for others. He had seen a group of homeless people, as his parents were driving him along and he wished he could help them. His only thoughts were of others and not himself.
That’s the key isn’t it? Instead of thinking about ourselves we turn our thoughts to others. Bill tells us that nothing will more insure our sobriety than working with others. When I think of others, I stop thinking about myself and what I want and how to get it. It begins with the First Tradition. Putting aside our wants and desires for the good of the group. It culminates in the Twelfth Tradition, which reminds us once again of sacrifice for the good of others and the concept of humility found in anonymity.
I couldn’t help but think about this today. Like one old timer reminded me, never go into your head alone. Take an adult with you. It’s about sobriety and sober thinking.