Member: james k
Location: penticton b.c. canada
Remote Name: 24.67.253.204
Date: 01 Feb 2004
Time: 03:19 PM -0500
Having had a "SPIRITUAL AWAKENING",as a result of these steps,we carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.????????
Member: Sharon Frey
Location: Portland, Oregon
Remote Name: 67.168.200.60
Date: 01 Feb 2004
Time: 04:18 PM -0500
HI, by the time I went thru the 11 Steps and started to do 12.. I realized I had a higher power whic h I choose to call God, and I wasn't God any more.. I learned to lean on my HP and not on my stinking thinking. It was at the same time I realized that I did have something to share with the newcomer and it led me to more service work and I became worthy to be me, not God anymore. Thanks for the topic
Member: THOMAS A
Location: SPOKANE, WA
Remote Name: 66.189.209.70
Date: 01 Feb 2004
Time: 04:38 PM -0500
HI THOMAS ALCOHOLIC. I TALK TO MY HIGHER POWER ALL THROUGH THE DAY, I HAVE A WIFE THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYONE IN THIS WORLD TO ME, THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH HER IS SHE STILL DRINKS AND LIVES A LIFE OF DENIAL, ALWAYS NOT AT FAULT AND NEVER WRONG, SHE SAYS SHE IS BETTER THEN ANYONE ELSE NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES, EGO TRIP. BUT THEN WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT OURSELVES NOT OTHERS, AND I HAVE TO WORK THE STEPS, AND NOT LET MYSELF, BE PUT DOWN TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO HAVE THAT NEXT DRINK, MY HIGHER POWER GAVE ME THAT SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AND THE STRENGTH AND WILLINGNESS TO DO THE STEPS, AND STAY ON THE RIGHT PATH.
Member: Gabrielle P
Location: Northwest Ohio
Remote Name: 64.12.96.233
Date: 01 Feb 2004
Time: 06:00 PM -0500
Gabrielle grateful recovering alcoholic....Thank you James for this topic...one of my favorites...For me at the point that I "thought" I had experienced a spiritual awakening, I remeber that I had starting thanking God for everything in my life, the good , the bad and the wahtever else happens in life and being okay because I finally no longer felt alone. I felt comforted in the meetings being with others and did not feel like isolating any more...I began to see and feel changes in the way I treated others and and in the way I percieved that they treated me....I no longer felt like a failure at even breathing anymore...does this mena that everything in life instantly became and has been beautiful? No just that I no longer have to beat myslef up for mistakes, I have God on myside and always have, and that I matter today, I mean something...I feel wanted and needed and most of all I feel loved and know how to give unconditional love...still have to work on myself...just because I have been around a while..I still feel spiritual awakenings in my life, new growth and understanding and acceptance of life on life's terms....real serenity.. I cannot fail until I stop trying In Sobriety, In AA, In Life Gabrielle 11-20-87
Member: jules h.
Location: Iowa
Remote Name: 207.177.18.164
Date: 01 Feb 2004
Time: 07:06 PM -0500
Thanks for a great topic...Jules here, alcoholic..Every time we attend a meeting, we're carrying the message to our fellow alcoholics, we all have something good to offer, to give that message of hope to each other, thank goodness! A good friend of mine always says,"This is where we speak the language of the heart", and I love that. "MAYBE THERE ARE AS MANY DEFINITIONS OF SPIRITUAL AWAKENING AS THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEM." -TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS
Member: Craig L (Dogmanor@yahoo.com)
Location: Aloha, Oregon
Remote Name: 24.21.49.242
Date: 01 Feb 2004
Time: 08:13 PM -0500
Craig here another "real alcoholic" (page 21). From an early age I wanted to understand God, I wanted to have that "burning bush" encounter. I wanted God to come to me in one of those fantastic ways we read in the bible, but all of my will power and fantasy couldn't make it happen. The alcohol and drugs seemed to give me a connection to things, I even started using LSD hoping I would find God there, but it was all lies. So for years I accepted there was no God or at least one that cared about me and I drank to run from all the pain, fear and dissapointment. Then I drank because I got sick when I didn't drink. When alcohol had finally taken away everything and I was out of options, I came to AA and the 12 steps. In learning to practice them I have had a spiritual awakening. The steps have shown me the power of my ego to destroy Peace, the freedom of powerlessness and the awsome power of God working in my own and the lives of others when I let go and let it. Today, because of the 12 steps I can for a moment be at real Peace and totally present. That feeling of connectedness has become my "burning bush". Everyday I stay sober, the nature of God reveals itself again for today.
Member: robert smith
Location: east hartford ct
Remote Name: 152.163.253.70
Date: 01 Feb 2004
Time: 11:23 PM -0500
bob s east hartford ct i love this topic ! as it has been said in this 'meeting' i always knew that i was God but over the past 12 years i deffently found out that i was a far peace from that i'm very glad to have found out that it takes a very heavy weight off my shoulders as well as my temperment to say the least ! not that i don't slip [figuraly speaking] w/my mouth n attutade on occousanly ! however life is so much better now better go now keep on coming it gets better thank you
Member: maryl t
Location: california
Remote Name: 209.165.51.3
Date: 02 Feb 2004
Time: 12:51 AM -0500
Hi, my name is Maryl and I am an alcoholic...and eternally grateful for AA and all the wonderful people that fill these rooms. Thank you for this great topic. I have 51 days of sobriety and in that short period of time I have my spitituality has been awakened...not wide awake but a good beginninig. I don't isolate like i used to and i "catch" myself when i begin to revert to old behaviors. I work the steps like it's a full time job because it IS a full time, life time, life saving job. I am so gratefull for AA and the chance i have been given to experience the miracle of a spiritual awakening..thank you and good night
Member: AZbill
Location: azbill1172@cox.net
Remote Name: 68.226.19.154
Date: 02 Feb 2004
Time: 01:16 AM -0500
HI. Bill here, alcoholic from Arizona. You will get many ideas on this Spiritual Awakening/Experience. I base my share on what I learned in Appendix II Page 569. Check it out for yourself. The step is written in the past tense. "Having had a spiritual awakening...." This implies we have already had it by the time we get to Step 12. It is a promise. It is a result of working the previous 11 Steps out of the Big Book. We are going to get this thing whether we want it or not. :) Now, the level at which we get this awakening is directly proportional to the level we worked the Steps. There are two aspects to this Spiritual Awakening. Change is mentioned often, in one form or another, in Appendix II. I believe that to be the change that has occurred in me and those around me by first stopping drinking and on a greater level by working the steps. The more religious members think of the Spiritual Awakening as a "God consciousness". I buy that idea as well, since somewhere in the first Nine Steps, I suddenly realized that God was indeed doing for me what I could not. Thank you very much I love you. Bill
Member: Mike H
Location: Jackson Michigan
Remote Name: 68.76.55.57
Date: 02 Feb 2004
Time: 07:32 AM -0500
With me, my "spiritual awakening" was a gradual thing. As I worked the steps and improved my conscious contact with God I started to change and didn't realize it until one morning I woke up and was praying and it finally hit me. I was sober, I was helping people, I felt good about myself. It was a new me. I like this "me" a lot better than the old one and do everything I can to hang on to the person I have become. Wishing everyone health and happiness. Mike H.
Member: Betsy
Location: Washington
Remote Name: 67.168.35.179
Date: 02 Feb 2004
Time: 11:02 AM -0500
Hi, Betsy, alcoholic. Absent a burning bush mine was the garden variety kind, "as the result of these steps." Coming from an atheist family though, I think that's huge...
Member: Bob B
Location: NJ
Remote Name: 130.219.221.42
Date: 02 Feb 2004
Time: 11:13 AM -0500
Hi I'm Bob and I'm a recovered Alcoholic. The step is actually worded "having had a Spiritual Awakening as THE result". That 3 letter word "THE" is one of the most important words in all the steps. The Spiritual Awakening (or personality change required to recover from alcoholism) is THE result, not A result of living the 12 steps on a daily basis to the best of your ability. Thanks for letting me share.
Member: bobby p
Location: fairfax
Remote Name: 68.106.113.186
Date: 02 Feb 2004
Time: 07:25 PM -0500
I'm bobby an alcoholic. Thomas I can relate to what you shared about your wife mine is the same way. I love her very much. I never want to revert back to my old ways because life is more meaningful and I can hear God speak to me sometimes. He has blessed us with his grace.I want to have a simple uncomplicated life with my wife, but she is difficult because she is still using. I want to do whatever it takes to stay sober. I love God and He is so powerful.Thanks for sharing I can empathize with you.
Member: Leslie L
Location: Ohio
Remote Name: 24.53.191.187
Date: 02 Feb 2004
Time: 07:55 PM -0500
Hi, my name is Leslie, and I am definitely an alcoholic, and saying this is one of the most important messages I can share with another alcoholic who desires to stop drinking. I learned about AA and experienced sobriety/recovery as a result of a university professor who openly admitted to being a recoverying alcoholic in class. I felt that if he could admit it, I could to, and thank God I did. I was told early on that we may be the only Big Book that another alcoholic ever (reads) accesses. As time has gone by, I have been able to see God, my higher power, in everyone and everything. I read somewhere that God expresses himself through people, and people express God in accordance with their level of understanding.This helps me remember my daily commitment, not only to sobriety and AA, but to God and my fellow man, to develop my level of understanding to the best of my ability. Having been an AA member awhile, I believe that everyone's level of understanding is important and that all are indespensible to that tapestry of recovery we share by sharing our recovery in AA. Thanks for allowing me to share!
Member: Adam H.
Location: New York, NY
Remote Name: 64.232.156.194
Date: 03 Feb 2004
Time: 11:54 AM -0500
Adam, alcoholic. I often think the spiritual awakening as a result of the steps really IS like waking up from being asleep. Think about it... you are alive in both states (asleep and awake), but you are able to do and experience more than you could awake than asleep. Also, waking up from sleep can happen quickly or slowly, but what ultimately happens when you wake up from sleep, is you become more aware of your surroundings and more alert. What wakes up in me through working the steps is something in my personality...or my SPIRIT, if you will. Through doing the steps, I awaken to the idea that I can practice these principles in all my affairs, and I have the capability to do so. Through doing the steps, I learn what loving service is, but later I "wake up" to ideas of how to practice loving service outiside the rooms. Thus my whole attitude and outlook on life changes. Thanks for letting me share.
Member: Ellie J
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
Remote Name: 62.252.196.106
Date: 03 Feb 2004
Time: 05:50 PM -0500
My name is Ellie from the UK. This is my first time here. I am currently undergoing a 'spiritual awakening' through working the steps afresh after hearing the Big Book Awakenings study stuff on Audio. It is an amazing experience. I have never heard the steps and the BB spoken about in this way before. If anyone has a similar experience, I would be interested to hear it Thanks Ellie J
Member: Nate W.
Location: Spokane, WA
Remote Name: 24.18.115.53
Date: 03 Feb 2004
Time: 07:07 PM -0500
Nate, alcoholic, it seems I have a lot of Spiritual Awakenings lately, whether in my dreams or just a thought that pops in my head. I know for myself just thinking about the thoughts in my head and realizing certain things is an eye-opener. Thanks
Member: Peggy E
Location: Salem, Oregon
Remote Name: 67.164.52.213
Date: 03 Feb 2004
Time: 07:47 PM -0500
Hi! I'm Peggy - I'm an alcoholic. Thank you, James, for the topic. Spiritual Awakening = waking up after being asleep spiritually. I had a profound spiritual experience. My first months sober kicking tons of valium and alcohol mix cold turkey I prayed on my knees looking out my window of the detox I lived in praying to find this God I heard about in meetings. I didn't know that I had gone color blind from the deadly combination in my system. One day looking out that window I saw a yellow flower while all around it was grey and black and white! God painted that flower for me to give me hope. I knew He was there. Gradually all the colors came back as I healed one day at a time. I have been richly blessed in sobriety.
Member: mary allen
Location: austin, mn
Remote Name: 216.161.97.13
Date: 03 Feb 2004
Time: 09:13 PM -0500
I am an alcoholic and my name is Mary. Thanks for the subject, James. My Spiritual Experience was of the educational variety. I saw others have a "TA-DA" experience that they didn't follow through on and then they were gone from the meetings. Adam, I like what you shared. I can really understand that. I know that when I go to meetings or type a comment or let someone know that I am an alcoholic, I am sharing with others. Practicing these principles in all my affairs has come together also. It helps me to treat others as I want to be treated. Service work is very important to me. Service is where I am able to share what I have with others, be it as simple as making sure the meeting door is open when it is suppose to be. Thanks everyone for sharing.
Member: Sherron S
Location: Alaska
Remote Name: 209.165.161.128
Date: 03 Feb 2004
Time: 11:01 PM -0500
Hi, Sherron, alcoholic here. Spiritual awakening is a very good topic because I think that in order to live a clean and sober life, you have to have had a spiritual awakening. I thank God everyday that I am alive and sober today. Thanx.
Member: Sharon L
Location: AZ & NY
Remote Name: 216.161.145.251
Date: 03 Feb 2004
Time: 11:30 PM -0500
Hi, I am Sharon, an alcoholic. ......and to practice these principals in all our affairs. I have been sober for a while. The more sober I have gotten, the more I question what the founders of AA really meant when they developed these steps. I want to focus on the last part of that step. This last decade of my sobriety has opened up a whole new world for me. I have learned, through my activities, how to practice the principals of AA, OUTSIDE of the rooms of AA. When I first came into the rooms of AA, I craved that illusive state of being called 'serenity'. I was so rebellious and bull headed! I had to learn every step the hard way, fighting it all the way. But I stayed sober. And by staying sober, I slowly acquired new levels of understanding of the program. Acceptance is the answer to all my problems. Life handed me some 'rough roads'. Oddly enough, it was one of those that made me finally come out of the cloistered environment of AA and give myself the opportunity to 'practice these principals'. I had to set aside the fear, and take the risk. In AA, there was no risk. No matter what I did, people hugged me and loved me. By doing volunteer work for others, I reached a whole new level of understanding of the principals of the program. And I found a place where serenity exists (most of the time!). I LOVE that. I didn't find this through the easy times in life, I found it through the hardest times. Odd how that happens. I thank God (my Higher Power) for the tough lessons, they are the ones I never forget. And for the opportunities that sobriety and the program have given me to 'practice these principals in all my affairs'.......
Member: ryan p
Location: kansas city
Remote Name: 65.30.42.102
Date: 03 Feb 2004
Time: 11:53 PM -0500
Ryan alcoholic, having had a spiritual awakning as the result, I learned that my vision was so clouded that in order for me to see the truth I had to clear away the crap, in order to recieve the grace, to truly be able to accept this gift I needed the good the bad and the ugly reveiled believing that you people believed was the begining for me next was pg 30 BB from my head to my heart, thanks
Member: Kris J
Location: Atlanta
Remote Name: 136.2.1.101
Date: 04 Feb 2004
Time: 12:16 PM -0500
Hi Im Kris J and I am an alcoholic. Great Topic! My spiritual awakening came in the form of proof. My higher power has been closeted for some years now - not a true lack of belief - just uncertainty and no interaction. I had the opportunity over the holidays to "turn over" a very high powered situation to my higher power...and guess what - it was handled. I came out unscathed and didn't have to be concerned about anything. Since then there have been other small things that do convince me - that's why I've decided I'm not pursuing step 4 right now...I'm going to spend some more time on 3 - it's the only way to stay out my head!
Member: Darin
Location: Miss.
Remote Name: 152.163.253.70
Date: 04 Feb 2004
Time: 09:57 PM -0500
Hello everyone my name is darin and I'm an alcoholic. I have had many experiences that I consider spiritual but don't believe I've had the spiritual awakening the big book talks about. Gotta keep cleaning up my side of the street and it will materialize in Gods time not mine. Everyone take care God bless
Member: jpuckett
Location: ohio
Remote Name: 208.23.246.145
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 12:03 AM -0500
hi my name is jude i been in aa for a long time today i have a god who i knows that is taking care of me without him i would be backm out thank you for letting me share
Member: Les A
Location: Wa
Remote Name: 64.136.26.230
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 02:46 AM -0500
Hi, I'm Les, yes another alcholic. I'm also a newcomer on the staying cyber net. I just want to say, that even though I was brought up in a very religious family, yep, the disease got me caught up as well. But believing in my higher power, has helped me so much, you would not even believe!
Member: Les A
Location: Wa
Remote Name: 64.136.26.230
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 03:08 AM -0500
Hi, my name is Les. I'm a newcomer here, and I'm still learning about the program on the net. So please bear with me. I guess I never got it as a kid. I was raised in a huge family,that was very religious. But I guess that's besides the point. My point is that you will only get it when you finally get it! Am I correct? I have always had my higher power in my life, and I thank Him each and every day! But what I did'nt understand was how can your higher power seem to let you go astray? He never did, I did, and I'm very sorry now, and very glad to have my H.P. back in my life again! All I can say is I will try my very hardest every day to never let that happen again. Anyway, great and very strong subject, if you ask me. Thanks!
Member: AZbill
Location: azbill1172@cox.net
Remote Name: 68.226.19.154
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 04:53 AM -0500
HI Les, you are bang right on. Step two says "Came to believe..." That implies a period of time. And that implies it might not happen now. In Step three all you are doing is making a decision to seek God. Somewhere in the steps you will find this God. The promises bear this out as in.. "we will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves." That happens somewhere between step four and step nine. Emmet Fox wrote in "Sermon on the Mount" (one of the reference volumes used to write the Big Book)That God as you perceive Him only creates good. It is man who creates "bad". It is not all that difficult if you follow the instructions in the Big Book. Email me if you wish. Take care, Bill
Member: Vernon P
Location: Illinois
Remote Name: 152.163.253.70
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 06:44 AM -0500
Hi, my name is Vernon and I'm an alcoholic. Thanks for the topic. It's the very heart of recovery. I've heard it said that spirituality is to AA as water is to the ocean. "The God thing", to me, is the essence of my new life. My recovery is due to Alcoholics Anonymous, and Alcoholics Anonymous is based on its book. And its book says its purpose is to help me find a power greater than myself. Every story in our book gives me one more picture of a person who found this new life through something or someone greater than himself. And the guidance in our book takes me through the steps, which led me to the awakening. I love what Bill W. said somewhere, that some prefer a date with the undertaker to an experimental quest for God. I'm grateful for having been delivered from the undertaker (for now), and for being brought back to life. And thanks to all for a lot of great comments!
Member: Kim M.
Location: FL
Remote Name: 66.245.72.229
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 09:49 AM -0500
My spiritual awakening was discovering that many people needed me just as much as I needed them: to survive life on life's terms, take it easy, first things first, you are not alone, I understand, ODAAT, think,think,kniht; and so on. Being able to share from my heart and not my ego, has allowed me to carry the message and not the mess to other alkies who still suffer. I practice these principles in and out of the rooms. As I attached myself to "the winners" in early sobriety I found out that saying anything in the rooms of AA was one thing, but out in the real world practice, practice and more practice was spreading the message.
Member: Carolyn
Location: Colorado
Remote Name: 12.45.124.118
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 12:00 PM -0500
I have had little spiritual experiences since I've been a part of AA. Seems like the "educational variety" are the most common for me. Also seems like it's easier to see someone else's spiritual experiences, awakening, growth before they do. It's so cool to listen to people share at a meeting and they don't realize what God did in their life until another alcoholic points it out at the meeting. After my 7th step I had a burning bush type experience, which gave me the courage to continue with the steps, with the marriage, with life. Seems like God gives me the grace to go to the next step through spiritual experiences. Otherwise I would stay where I am and not go any farther. The 3rd step can be part of my life as long as I want it to be, but it is just a decision and the rest of the steps are the action. That's a response to an earlier post. As far as a spiritual awakening, that happened somewhere along the way in AA little by little but I have to remember it is an awakening, so that I can experience more and more of what God has in store. It feels like a "beginning" to me. I am in awe. It's also an issue of action-helping others. May seem like a trite saying, but I "gotta give it away to keep it." Sobriety and spirituality. Thanks for letting me share. Carolyn
Member: Phoebe B
Location: Winslow
Remote Name: 209.204.70.35
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 01:17 PM -0500
hi
Member: Betsy
Location: Washington
Remote Name: 67.168.35.179
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 03:52 PM -0500
Hi, Phoebe! Welcome...... Hugs, Betsy
Member: John B.
Location: Illinois
Remote Name: 134.67.6.46
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 04:00 PM -0500
Just a couple of points. Someone mentioned that a spiritual awakening follows being spiritually asleep. That is true, and like real sleep, one can fall asleep again quite easily spiritually too. So, don't make too much of Bill's description in the book, of a wind rushing through the room, or whatever he said. This is an analogy he used to describe a major change of heart and perspective. He tended toward the flowery and melodramatic in his writing, so don't be discouraged if you have not "seen a burning bush." Second, I feel strongly that each person must have an experience that is his or her own. Many descriptions you here at meetings or here on this site sound "borrowed." Put it in your own words! Overuse of cliches and terms diminishes what you can share, compared to putting it in your own words.
Member: Kelly M
Location: NH
Remote Name: 64.222.182.231
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 05:40 PM -0500
Hi, Kelly an alcoholic. I have been looking for a way to describe in words what my spiritual awakenings feel like this week and it is a very hard thing to explain. I know how wonderful it feels but as a man can never know the joy of giving birth other then trying to understand the feeling. That is how I feel having had one and trying to describe it. The only thing I can say is it is like being overtaken with a euphoria, a gratefulness, deep understanding, love and a satisfying peace. It is feeling on the same plane as God so you could just reach out and touch his hand with your own and connect on every level somehow. There is a connection from my prayer to my creator and he astonishes me with the gifts he puts before me by giving me exactly what I need each day. I used to have coincidences but this is a complete psychic change that has happened to me. I think it is what I was always looking for from a bottle but I never had opened myself up enough to let the sunshine of the spirit shine in me. I once prayed to God but today I wear my God as a loose garment and his spirit just flows around me and I feel warm happy and content and ok with the world and me. I know some of you must think I'm nuts but so many people have noticed the changes in me that it has to be real. I'm very grateful to AA for helping me to put the drink down along with every thing else positive I have gained so far. I am able to share it with those around me too. Thanks, Kelly :)
Member: james k
Location: penticton b.c. canada
Remote Name: 24.67.253.204
Date: 05 Feb 2004
Time: 08:21 PM -0500
Enjoyed the comments every shared.It sure is different for me to wake up in the morning and saying "thanks for another day",instead of"goddamit not another day" Jim K
Member: Robb C
Location: Seattle
Remote Name: 65.102.114.138
Date: 06 Feb 2004
Time: 08:38 AM -0500
...Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked his protection and care with complete abandon. Understanding this was a huge turning point in my recovery. I resisted the idea of COMPLETE surrender. With a better understanding of step three I was able to turn myself over to god and let his plan for me begin to rock! "Cashing that check" was huge for me. We were born to make the glory of god within us shine. When we let our own light shine we unconsciously give people around us permission to do the same! Marianne Williamson quote: As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Fear can actually be a positive force, it is when we fight it, that it may be destructive. Turning oneself over to god can be a terrifying experience at first, but once assembled it is a huge relief!
Member: Rarely
Location: rontherocket@hotmail.com
Remote Name: 206.45.164.46
Date: 06 Feb 2004
Time: 12:30 PM -0500
Rarely alcoholic. " as a result of these steps." When I got three months sobriety I done the third step. Now if I may quote the big book bottom of page 63..... if honestly and humbly made an effect, sometimes a very great one was felt at once..... At the same time as I done this step I was facing 5 criminal charges the worst being I had stabbed a guy a number of times, I had being in jail many times and was a five time loser to assault. I was the bottlegger and drug pusher. It was nothing for me to give my female partner a black eye or even two. I sold drugs that put some teeny bobbers in the hospital. I stole what ever I could steal from who ever had what I wanted. And those are only the things I talk about at a meeting I have many more things that are only for the ears of the person I did my step five with. anyway after I had an effect from doing the third step prayer, I had an effect that I knew that everyone who knew me would know that I had changed. I made a vow that I would never swear at an A.A.meeting or would I ever swear in the company of the members of A.A. I done this out of sole respect for the people who saved my life and helped me to find a God of my understanding.... I also vowed to never steal from my group or any A.A. members. After 3o years one day at a time. I am still holding to my vow. I have found that those members who have been sober for a while and still swear and have no respect for other members are only an arms lenght away from stealing from you. To end how would it sound for me to go cussing at every second word while talking to a guy thats never been to A.A.? Love and hugs
Member: cathy d.
Location: Ann Arbor MI
Remote Name: 68.40.199.204
Date: 06 Feb 2004
Time: 11:26 PM -0500
I always say I'm not interested in proving the exsistence of God, it just works for me. Before joining AA I didn't feel a connection to God despite a very religious childhood, I really wanted no part of that crud. After a number of meetings I decided to put myself into the care and protection of my higher power because I knew leaving myself in my own care and protection left me hopeless and drunk. The third step is my favorite, everyday I make that decision (3rd step) again is a great day. Full of hope. Been doing it almost daily for 10 years, still feels remarkable that it's that simple. Thanks for reading
Member: Lee B.
Location: currently MA
Remote Name: 206.216.166.107
Date: 07 Feb 2004
Time: 02:31 AM -0500
Lee, acoholic. Can't seem to keep from falling off the wagon and am feeling quite unworthy of my HP. Why is it that I have to continually mess-up in order to find my way back? It's a good thing God and my husband are so forgiving. I could not have admitted I have a problem if it were not for these two driving forces in my life. Also, I do not want my children to see me this way and think that it's acceptable behavior to drink too much! Thank you for letting me share. God bless.
Member: Sheri
Location: wyoming
Remote Name: 209.193.78.203
Date: 07 Feb 2004
Time: 12:39 PM -0500
WOW! Thanks for the great topic it is always amazing how I hear what I needed ((Darin)) for also telling me what I needed to do look around. I have a great faith in my HP and have seen many miracles in others lives even my own but feel so unworthy. I know that he speaks through others and I have been trying to listen to all. I believe I have to find his forgiveness in myself first to feel this awakening you all speak of I have 48 days this time only because of his Grace and because I go to meetings and I got a sponsor. I am totally powerless over alcohol and drugs as well as life it self. When I give it all away maybe then I will feel his love and peace ODAAT Thanks for letting me share Sheri