Big Book, Sponsor, Meetings, Steps and Prayer
“To the exact degree that I take these actions, is the degree by which I will receive the benefits of them – up to and including ongoing sobriety and quality of life.”
It is not just that I have read my Big Book… but rather am I using it as a TEXT to look for my problems and the solutions offered for them.
It is not just that I can name a sponsor or that I even talk to my sponsor…rather am I being honest with my sponsor? Reviewing my days, listening, following suggestions and taking the directions given to me am I recognizing my sponsor as the physical extension through which my Higher Power will often work? It is not just that I have worked the steps or that I know how to use them…rather am I applying the steps on a daily basis, relying on the direction of my sponsor and the ability given to me by my God? Am I working the steps as an action to grow in intimacy with the God of my understanding?
It is not just that I go to meetings or even that I can name a home group…rather: am I an ACTIVE MEMBER of my home group, contributing to it in some way on a weekly basis? (Whether that is done by greeting people, giving my number to newcomers, helping set up, helping clean up, reading, giving out chips, etc…)
It is not just that I believe in God or that I talk to God in the morning and/or at night…rather: am I actively seeking God throughout the day? Am I asking for guidance in each questionable situation? Am I relying on God; and in doing so, recognizing my own limitations…leading me to grow in humble intimacy with Him?
I have known plenty of people that would say (having come back from a relapse), “I did all that stuff and it didn’t work!!!” But in my experience (when we probed a little deeper and looked at the degree by which they took the 5 spiritual actions and applied them), it had not gone below the surface. The reliance (if any), that had been built – had been built on “people” rather than on “God”. The Big Book says, “we had passed into the region from which there is no return through human aid ” Except in a few rare cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power.” And so we will find this to be true in our recovery efforts. I have to remember “Who” keeps me sober and what role the 5 actions play: The Big Book is a text that guides me in (a) Understanding the problem; (b) Gaining insight to the solution, and; (c) In the applicable plan of the 12-steps as they are laid out…leading me to develop a relationship with God.
- The Sponsor is there to guide me in the understanding of the Big Book and the action of applying the 12 steps to my life.
- The Meetings are there to support me in my recovery efforts and to allow me the opportunity to get out of myself and be of service to others.
- The Steps are there to enable me to develop a personal and intimate relationship with the God of my understanding.
- Prayer is there to remind me that “I” am not my answer and “God” always is. So you take the 5 spiritual actions and add them together as if doing basic math:
Big Book+Sponsor+ Home Group+Steps+Prayer = RECOVERY??? NOT QUITE!
To get the full result, the BOTTOM LINE TOTAL…we must add one final piece to the equation:
+ Helping Others
When this is added we get: Sobriety, Wholeness, Happiness, Purpose, Fulfillment, Life …and the list goes on.
~ To the degree that I desire these things in my life…is the degree by which I will have to take action in these areas.