HOW you work the program determines WHO you become
It takes honesty, open mindedness and willingness to become Willing, honest and open-minded.
Page 47 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
” When, Therefore we speak to you of God, we mean your own conception of God. This applies, too, to other spiritual expressions which you find in this book. Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you form honestly asking yourself what they mean to you. At the start, this was all we needed to commence spiritual growth. To effect our first conscious relation with God as we understood him. Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many things which then seemed entirely out of reach. That was growth, but if we wished to grow we had to begin somewhere.”
For me – I was told to stop fighting, everything and everyone. That mostly meant I had to stop fighting me. I had to give up my preconceptions and my “belief system’ After all, look where it got me. . LOL. I find this paragraph was very important to me to “make a start” on my spiritual journey.
It gave me permission to examine, and explore. It gives me permission to evolve and change. It gives me permission to throw out what isn’t working. If it don’t feel right, chuck it out. I tried to be a good Christian, I listened in church, heard the hypocrites on the church steps even louder. It felt wrong, and uncomfortable. I searched for a spiritual solution in alcohol, pot, and other things … I took a very long road to get here, demoralized and shunned by my family and friends.
I held on to my belief system until I was in so much pain I couldn’t stand it any longer. I had to start asking questions. I had to become honest enough to be open- minded and pain will make me willing every time. The relationship that has grown out of the exploration that I started with drugs and alcohol, has led me full circle back to the “beliefs” and knowings I held true as a child.
Since we have so many new people struggling with a concept of a higher power and our topic last week that a psychic change is “necessary” to this new way of life, I thought we might discuss this paragraph. Let’s see how willing we were to become honest and open-minded. I look forward to reading all your journeys.