For my BigBook friends......
12-Step Recovered Alkie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Posts: 5,797
For my BigBook friends......
P60 - in the lead-up to the 3rd step it reads:
"The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success."
To me, that implies there's a second and/or a third.
Is there a SECOND requirement or a NEXT prior to actually making the decision? I can't find it.
The only thing I can come up with is yet another "first" where it goes into actually MAKING the 3rd step decision - it give us 2 parts (the why we do it and the how we do it):
1. "First of all we had to quit playing God. It didn't work"
2. "Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director.
"The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success."
To me, that implies there's a second and/or a third.
Is there a SECOND requirement or a NEXT prior to actually making the decision? I can't find it.
The only thing I can come up with is yet another "first" where it goes into actually MAKING the 3rd step decision - it give us 2 parts (the why we do it and the how we do it):
1. "First of all we had to quit playing God. It didn't work"
2. "Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: The Trenches, Texas
Posts: 778
From my understanding you are correct.
We cannot quit playing God(the second part) until we are convinced that any life run on self will can hardly be a success. If I still have faith that running on self will is going to work then I will still want to play God. When convinced of the first part it is easy for me to understand, "oh, you mean I have to quit playing God? Oh, you do mean that, so what do I do now, make a decision to turn my will and life over(work 4-9)."
Kind of like in More About Alcoholism where it stated that "We learned we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics." We would not have been willing in step two, to look at a power that could restore us had we not fully conceded to our innermost selves.
Hope that helps rather than confuses.
We cannot quit playing God(the second part) until we are convinced that any life run on self will can hardly be a success. If I still have faith that running on self will is going to work then I will still want to play God. When convinced of the first part it is easy for me to understand, "oh, you mean I have to quit playing God? Oh, you do mean that, so what do I do now, make a decision to turn my will and life over(work 4-9)."
Kind of like in More About Alcoholism where it stated that "We learned we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics." We would not have been willing in step two, to look at a power that could restore us had we not fully conceded to our innermost selves.
Hope that helps rather than confuses.
Guest
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,452
From my Clarence Snyder 12 step guide:
Step Three requires action-making a decision. The step has five parts:
1. Acknowledging that any life run on self-will is doomed to failure.
2. We define this trait as self-centeredness, egocentricity, playing God.
3. First we decided to quit playing God ourselves.
4. Next we decided to let God be God.
5. Finally, we solemnized the decision with a prayer, called the Third Step Prayer.
"First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn't work.
Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept, was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom."
The concept, to me...is first, out of self will, next into God's will.
Step Three requires action-making a decision. The step has five parts:
1. Acknowledging that any life run on self-will is doomed to failure.
2. We define this trait as self-centeredness, egocentricity, playing God.
3. First we decided to quit playing God ourselves.
4. Next we decided to let God be God.
5. Finally, we solemnized the decision with a prayer, called the Third Step Prayer.
"First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn't work.
Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept, was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom."
The concept, to me...is first, out of self will, next into God's will.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: The Trenches, Texas
Posts: 778
Originally Posted by Veritas1 
From my Clarence Snyder 12 step guide:
Step Three requires action-making a decision. The step has five parts:
1. Acknowledging that any life run on self-will is doomed to failure.
2. We define this trait as self-centeredness, egocentricity, playing God.
3. First we decided to quit playing God ourselves.
4. Next we decided to let God be God.
5. Finally, we solemnized the decision with a prayer, called the Third Step Prayer.
"First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn't work.
Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept, was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom."
The concept, to me...is first, out of self will, next into God's will.
Step Three requires action-making a decision. The step has five parts:
1. Acknowledging that any life run on self-will is doomed to failure.
2. We define this trait as self-centeredness, egocentricity, playing God.
3. First we decided to quit playing God ourselves.
4. Next we decided to let God be God.
5. Finally, we solemnized the decision with a prayer, called the Third Step Prayer.
"First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn't work.
Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept, was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom."
The concept, to me...is first, out of self will, next into God's will.
Another Day in Paradise
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Upland, CA
Posts: 900
A few years ago I was in a meeting when a wide eyed newcomer, a very sincere young lady, shared that she was "more than willing to let God run the show, but what happens if he gets it wrong?"
Needless to say you could have heard a pin drop. After a few moments of silence a very kind lady gave the young lady a hug and suggested that she and the newcomer could chat about the meaning of the step after the meeting.
Acceptance of the concept is sometimes more difficult than just reading the words.
Jon
Needless to say you could have heard a pin drop. After a few moments of silence a very kind lady gave the young lady a hug and suggested that she and the newcomer could chat about the meaning of the step after the meeting.
Acceptance of the concept is sometimes more difficult than just reading the words.
Jon
12-Step Recovered Alkie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Posts: 5,797
lol.....
maybe I didn't ask properly....
They use "first" we're convinced...etc etc ....ok......i get it.
What's second then, or what's next? Is the first "first" just poor writing style? If there's a first, shouldn't there be second?
From all I can see the next thing to follow the first "first" is a second "first." (first of all we quit playing God)
It's not a big deal......really..... I get that the ideas they're talking about are what matters and I understand how to work the step. I'm just nit-picking but I'm also curious if I missed something.
maybe I didn't ask properly....
They use "first" we're convinced...etc etc ....ok......i get it.
What's second then, or what's next? Is the first "first" just poor writing style? If there's a first, shouldn't there be second?
From all I can see the next thing to follow the first "first" is a second "first." (first of all we quit playing God)
It's not a big deal......really..... I get that the ideas they're talking about are what matters and I understand how to work the step. I'm just nit-picking but I'm also curious if I missed something.
Ch5 HOW
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Queens, NY
Posts: 175
Daytrader,
Good catch here...i think they are talking about:
first: convinced life on self will....
second: "most good ideas are simple and this concept was the keystone of a new and triumphant arch which we passed to freedom"----WHAT CONCEPT- THE CONCEPT THAT GOD IS NOW RUNNING THE SHOW NOW AND NOT US?
ALSO....in into action at the 5th step they say "the best reason FIRST, if you skip this step you may not overcome drinking"........its first but also the only reason Bill gives, nothing else....LOL....caught that one too
Good catch here...i think they are talking about:
first: convinced life on self will....
second: "most good ideas are simple and this concept was the keystone of a new and triumphant arch which we passed to freedom"----WHAT CONCEPT- THE CONCEPT THAT GOD IS NOW RUNNING THE SHOW NOW AND NOT US?
ALSO....in into action at the 5th step they say "the best reason FIRST, if you skip this step you may not overcome drinking"........its first but also the only reason Bill gives, nothing else....LOL....caught that one too
Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: my room in ct.
Posts: 58,110
2- And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid
3- we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director
give that a whirl DT
right out of the book
and there are two firsts!
it must be important, egh? lol
3- we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director
give that a whirl DT
right out of the book
and there are two firsts!
it must be important, egh? lol
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