Over time it has been amazing. How often calls open up the doors to these Steps and how this program works for alcoholics like myself. I got a call from an alcoholic I have known for a long time in here.
We had a lot of sharing, which went all over the place. Things wrong with all of us and how these can occur in us over our time in here. After all, as we both said, we’re still human and often can get tripped up, as my sponsor pointed out to me. And of course the BB tells us the same thing. We’re still human and not saints.
But we also talked about the spiritual life. Things we have read and heard from very spiritual people. Things I need to hear and be reminded of over time. A lot of things popped into my head, as we talked. And the same for my friend, as we continued to share.
One of the things I was reminded of was what we both ran into in our being alcoholics. And that was our oversized egos. Not just what we were told by old timers and read from Dr, Harry Tiebout, who was an early help to AA. And his warning to those early old timers. And that was the need for ego deflation in depth. The same thing my sponsor and those old timers tried to continually put into action. I can well remember how I was cut down to size. And how grateful I am that they had the courage and know how to get me out of my own way and that of others in here. It definitely helped me in so many ways. Especially in growing along spiritual lines.
I don’t know if either one of us felt we were all that spiritual. At least I know I learned a lot of things I needed to do in here, but never ever could look at myself as a spiritual person. I know what I need to do each and everyday. I need to stop and begin my day with that Eleventh Step. I need to pray and offer myself up to my Higher Power and ask for the help I need to stay sober a day at a time. The Serenity Prayer and the Third Step prayer. And then to attempt to stop and take the time to meditate, if possible. That conscious contact with God, as stated in that Step.
Anyway I knew that both of us had opened ourselves up to remaining sober for another day in here. I had to stop and think about applying hope, faith, and love in my life. Part of trying to practice this program. It made both of us think about helping others to stay sober like we do a day at a time, and to be grateful for all we have been given.