Catch 22

[nandm]

From Step By Step, daily meditations for those living the 12 steps

[quote]"Wen you want to believe in something you also have to believe in everything that's necessary for believing in it."

It's understandable to want assurances that turning our will over to a Higher Power will work before we try it for ourselves. Although many people tell us it's worked for them, we don't necessarily see that as proof positive. We'd rather have firsthand, personal experience before we buy the whole package. But this is where we hit Catch 22---because the ony way we can get proof is by doing what has been suggested to us.

We may tell ourselves and others, "I really don't see my so-called problem as all that bad. All I really want is to reinstate myself with my family and my profession. I don't have any experience in releasing self-will to anyone else. I just can't buy inot it. It seems pointless to put myself in the hands of some unknown force."

But when nothing changes, nothing gets better. When we realize we just spin our wheels in the sand, there is nothing to do, but to do it. We listen to those others who tell us: "I tried it. And I was amazed at the changes that began happening in my life."

Day by day, step by step, we are beginning to trust in others and in the process of recovery. A beautiful pattern is opening up before our eyes.

TODAY'S STEP: I am beginning to turn my will and my life over to my Higher Power unconditionally.

When I read this it brought to mind all the ads that are out there on tv, magazines, etc.... That make claims, that guarantee fantastic unbelievable results. Needless to say 99% of them are unbelievable because they are false or what it takes to get the results is nearly impossible or unhealthy to achieve. I think these type of ads have contributed to the skepticism of people. I know they make me more guarded.

Trust is a hard thing to come by especially for alcoholics. There are so many things in everyday life that contribute to and encourage the mistrust we have in life. It is no wonder so many people stuggle with the 3rd Step. Putting faith in something we can see is hard enough but to put it in something we can not see, that is nearly impossible.

For me this Step was difficult because I had lost so much faith in myself by the time I got here that I no longer knew what or who I could trust. Thank God, I was so beat up and desperate for a solution that I was willing to try anything that was suggested to ease my pain even place my trust in something I was unable to visualize.

Any thoughts or comments?

[Pinkcuda]

None of the things you see on radio, television, etc... tell you that you have to work at it either. They claim to do everything to make your life easier. AA doesn't make a false promise like that. If I was to tell you that I have a wonder cure for alcoholism and all you have to do is listen to my tape collection that can be yours for 3 easy payments, by all means, be scheptical. If I said that I can relieve you of your alcoholism, but it will require a lot of effort on your part and only costs a dollar a week, but includes free coffee, then you could trust it a little bit more.

[nandm]

Originally Posted by Pinkcuda

If I was to tell you that I have a wonder cure for alcoholism and all you have to do is listen to my tape collection that can be yours for 3 easy payments, by all means, be scheptical. If I said that I can relieve you of your alcoholism, but it will require a lot of effort on your part and only costs a dollar a week, but includes free coffee, then you could trust it a little bit more.

Great point. I think that is the biggest difference between the two. A.A. does require work but the work is well worth it.

The point I meant to make though was that with all the outside influences that leave us feeling more guarded it can be difficult to trust and have faith in a Higher Power to resolve our alcohol problem if one has never had that faith before. I did not come into this program with a lot of faith in a Higher Power, I had it confused with the God of my childhood. I am thankful that I stuck around long enough to learn to trust in the Higher Power of my own understanding, which resolves my alcoholism on a daily basis, although I definatly still have to work to maintain my spiritual condition.

[CarolD]

I was truly fortunate with this trust in HP idea.

I happily returned to my childhood Sunday School
God of forgiveness and love.

I am a great fan of "Keep It Simple"

[CarolD]

I just read your post ahead of mine...
and see your experience with a earlier God
was not the same as mine.

And yet...we both have answers that lead us to
personal contact and recovery.

Hurrah For AA

[findingout]

Day by day, step by step, we are beginning to trust in others and in the process of recovery. A beautiful pattern is opening up before our eyes.

That is how worked for me. When I started out, I had a God I didn't believe in and it took me a while to learn that this was not the God that the steps were telling me I had to trust.

There is a real freedom in a higher power of my own understanding. While it may be that all our higher powers are exactly one higher power at some level, we do not have to agree on every little detail or any little detail. We just have to trust that God could and would if he/she/it were sought.