Bridge of Reason

[RufusACanal]

"Arrived at this point, we were squarely confronted with the question of faith. We couldn't duck the issue. Some of us had already walked far over the Bridge of Reason toward the desired shore of faith. The outlines and the promise of the New Land had brought lustre to tired eyes and fresh courage to flagging spirits. Friendly hands had stretched out in welcome. We were grateful that Reason had brought us so far. But somehow, we couldn't quite step ashore. Perhaps we had been leaning too heavily on Reason that last mile and we did not like to lose our support."

[freya]

This is a great passage -- one of my favorites. I often say that, when it came to trying to find a spiritual connection, being as smart as I am is what made me really stupid.

Because my intellect is so powerful and because I have been able to use and rely on it so much in so many situations -- and rightly so -- I somehow fell into the very dangerous (and totally arrogant and stupid) trap of assuming that, if there was a Higher Power / God / Nature / Goddess / The Source / The Force / The Energy of the Universe / The Divine / Existence / whatever-you-want-to-call-IT , then I would obviously understand IT and IT's plans for, not only me, but pretty much the rest of the world as well....So, if things were going on in the world that I didn't understand and couldn't explain and that didn't seem "right" to me, then, obviously, there was no HP.

DUMB, DUMB, DUMB, DUMB, DUMB!

For me, "getting" the fact that anything that I as a human being with a human intellect could actually understand could not possibly be adequate to qualitfy as any kind of Higher Power was a major epiphany....and a major step toward my becoming "right-sized."

And I also really appreciate the fact that this passage recognizes and respects that reason/intelligence/intellect can be of use and support in making that spiritual connection, even though it cannot get us all the way there. Sometimes there is such a reactionary, downright anti-intellectual "tone" to some 12 Step speaking and thinking...and that's just as stupid and silly as thinking intellect alone can do it all. Intellect and the abilty to think and reason well is a gift from HP just like any other gift....we, as the one's who have been given the gift, need to value and respect it and be ble to use when and where it's helpful and appropriate, just as we need to learn to develop and use other tools/gifts in ways and for purposes that it is not.

freya

[IO Storm]

For me? I had used up all my "reasons." And "reasoning"..justification and rationalization.

I said "thanks but no thanks" to the Bridge.. and jumped in.

(I've always loved to live on the edge)

A leap of faith.

See, I was shipwrecked already...and drowning didn't scare me.

I welcomed the oblivion.

I found the shore of faith was right under my feet.

I didn't have to swim for it..all I had to do was stand up and begin to take steps.

[Tazman53]

I have found that the more action I take based on faith the stronger my faith becomes and the stronger my faith becomes the more actions I take..... actions based upon faith, faith in a power greater then me, he opens the doors, he points the way, the greater my faith the quicker I will step through that door or go down that path.

It all took that first leap, and when I took that leap and I did not fall, my strength in faith grew. I share this with sponsee's, when I can not say, but when I am moved to do so, and they get it every time.