Over the ~25 years I've been in the program, I find myself sort of wandering all over the map from "they're (doesn't make much difference who they are - they are just not 'me') not doing it right" and "they're killing alcoholics" to "live and let live" and "whatever works".
There are several (many) things that I marvel about AA - paradoxes, as it were:
- we are not organized and "We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree..." BB p. 17
- we only have one program and everyone works the program their own way
- if you're not working the steps, you will not recover and the steps are suggested only
- "meeting makers make it" and no-one has ever recovered on AA meetings
- the purpose of the steps lead us to a relationship with God and you don't need to believe in God to work our program
- for some, general service work is the foundation of recovery, others claim that all those politics would lead them to drink
My point here is to marvel a bit at what my perspectives have been through the years. I have at different times the zealot, the fundamentalist, the liberal, and, for a while, I was even indifferent.
The thing that I notice today is that so many of us have recovered from alcoholism from so many different efforts at trying to work this program so many different ways - and yet, thousands of us have definitely recovered. For many of us, it has led us back to a religion of our youth. For me and many others, it has provided a solution we could never find in our religious heritage. For sill others, they seem to do just fine with the spiritual facets of our program not expressed in any particular religion.
It's really quite marvelous...
Today, for the first time that I can remember, I truly value all the perspectives in this beautiful program. Not merely tolerate, but appreciate that it takes all of us and all of our perspectives and experiences to create this wonderful fabric, this tapestry, of recovery an hope...
What an amazing deal...
4 comments:
It is amazing. Even Bill W. couldn't explain how the program worked. I just listened to a talk of his. I'm just grateful to have the 12 steps, a good sponsor, meetings to attend, and service work to do. It keeps my life manageable.
It is amazing. And I think that part of it is that success is different for each of us. My sponsor's success is that she didn't commit murder, mine is that I didn't commit suicide. Some want to work on the 'frills' and some want to come now and then and say 'I should get to more meetings'. Again, every time!
Ahhh I like this post. It truly is a wonderful program isn't it?
Though each of the ingredients might be unsavory in themselves, together they make a great-tasting cake.
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