2-5
He attended church school, where he became rebellious at what he thought an overdose of religious education. For years thereafter he was dogged by trouble and frustration. Business failure, insanity, fatal illness, suicide---these calamities in his immediate family embittered and depressed him. Post-war disillusionment, ever more serious alcoholism, impending mental and physical collapse, brought him to the point of self-destruction.
Here is the story of many of our lives. Rather than adopting a spiritual life we experience the results of a life based on self-will trouble and frustration. Restricted to our own resources by our faulty perception we are unable to meet life's challenges. Alcoholism strips our lives of purpose and meaning, we become sick physically and mentally seek escape.
7
Our friend's gorge rose as he bitterly cried out: "If there is a God, He certainly hasn't done anything for me."
Here is an example of self-centeredness. We think only of what God and other people can do for us. This is a defect in perception that brings only frustration and unhappiness when things do not go our way. Trying to place God at the center of our lives and seeking ways to further God's will is a way of life that brings happiness, freedom and joy.
8
But later, alone in his room, he asked himself this question: "Is it possible that all the religious people I have known are wrong?"
We can ask ourselves this same question. We can also ask if the millions of alcoholics who say that they have been restored to happy useful lives by practicinv these principles could be wrong?
17-18
He had stepped from bridge to shore. For the first time, he lived in conscious companionship with his Creator.
Stepping from the Bridge of Reason to the solid ground of faith is the beginning of our relationship with God. The extent of our willingness to believe determines how completely we are able to adopt this new way of life.
20
No later vicissitude has shaken it.
DEFINITION:
Vicissitude: change of circumstances
56:21-57:3
His alcoholic problem was taken away. That very night three years ago it disappeared. Save for a few brief moments of temptation the thought of drink has never returned; and at such times a great revulsion has risen up in him. Seemingly he could not drink even if he would. God had restored his sanity.
The result of our willingness to believe and a way of life based upon that belief is the removal of our alcoholic problem and a restoration to sanity. What better reason could there be for us to believe in a Power greater than ourselves?
Source:
The Annotated AA Handbook
Frank D