Big Book Quote

[CarolD]

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*


"Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others."


~Alcoholics Anonymous, 1st. Edition,
The Family Afterward, pg. 132~

[RufusACanal]

This is freedom.

[jimhere]

When I was five years sober, my mother came to visit me. While she was here she wanted to see an A.A. meeting. After all she wanted to know about what it was that gave her her son back. At the time my home group was a large active group in Seattle and the meeting was open so I said I would take her to that meeting. I warned her that she might hear some bad language and see some strange looking people.

At the end of the meeting this guy was talking about how ended up in a motel room alone, in despair, and at the end of his rope. He decided to end it and was going to blow his head off. He told about how put the barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The gun misfired and that pissed him off so bad that he threw it across the room and when it hit the wall it went off and shot him in the arm. The whole room erupted into laughter and my mother looked at like "What is wrong with you people?"

What my non-alcoholic mother can't understand is that we weren't laughing at the guy, we were laughing because we'd all been at the end of our rope at one time and had been brought out of the hell of alcoholism by what proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God.

"But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others." One of the most powerful sentences in the entire book and it entirely negates the thread "Recovering vs. Recovered." The book is either true or it isn't, you either believe it or you don't. This life isn't about a false modesty and a pretended humility. It is about living with power and purpose and intent. It is to be an intelligent agent, a spearhead of God's ever advancing creation. It is to be a living, walking demonstration of the power of God, to be a city on a hill, a lamp unto the feet of men, it is to be the salt of the earth. It is about living a life of joy. Emmett Fox said that misery can hidden, but that you can't hide joy anymore than you can hide garlic and that if you cultivate joy, you can't help but to help and inspire everyone you meet.

And again, it is about living with power in my life. There is a big difference between believing in God and believing in the power of God. Live like you've tapped into that hidden resource of power that is unlimited. The same power that holds the planets in orbit flows in you. All the power that God has is mine, and all I have to do is claim it and use it for what it is for. Power is for one thing-to help others, and to misuse it is a waste of spirit. Ask yourself this question: "What are you gonna do with the power God gave you?" If I use for any other purpose than for what is given, it will destroy me and hurt others.
Jim

Big Book references from Alcoholics Anonymous, First Edition

[McGowdog]

Wow, that's good stuff! R, and J, and C!