Step 5

I don’t remember ever hearing a term like “The gates of insanity” before.  It sure did describe me when I got here.  In fact, I think I had one foot inside the gate.  I knew I was crazy and there was no hope for me. The program of AA has promised me that if I am rigorously honest with myself … Read More

Why an Inventory?

“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves” “Step Four.  It is the beginning of a lifetime practice in gaining a meaningful perspective or yourself.” So counseled the Sponsor to his Sponsee as they shared a hefty piece of apple pie alamode at Fellowship Hall. SPONSEE: Yeah.  But what’s in it for me?  After all, I have gone to … Read More

Made a decision . . .

“I made the decision to turn my life and will over to the care of God as I understand Him.” Since 1969 I have gone to church, meditated, prayed, read book after book trying to learn how to surrender, to rid myself of my ever present ego.  My ego fought me tooth and nail. I wanted to switch the light … Read More

Came to believe . . .

Step two, “came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” The compulsion to drink for me was not the only “Merciless obses-sion” that came to compel me in my insanity of alcoholism. Having had lost faith in the God I had come to perceive as punitive, wrathful and vindictive. At first I was torn … Read More

F.E.A.R.

My spirit began to wake up when my desire to stop drinking coupled with a willingness to do whatever it took to accomplish that desire. The process of getting desire and willingness on the same page took years of desperation drinking. On May 12, 1989 I spoke to my first recovering alcoholic. On that day, my wife dropped me off … Read More

Sought through prayer and meditation . . .

Step Eleven provides a strong foundation for spiritual development of our AA program. As it is noted in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, “The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.” Since prayer and meditation are our principle means of gaining conscious contact with God, these are essential components for living a successful and joyful … Read More

Continued to take personal inventory . . .

There is a passage in the big book that says: “…we have ceased fighting anything or anyone — even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned.” This is one of the promises of step ten outlined in the Big Book. The dictionary defines a milestone as: An action or event marking a significant change or stage in development. … Read More