DRINKING ALCOHOL TAUGHT ME HOW TO FLY
THEN IT TOOK AWAY THE SKY

Sunday, August 2, 2009

AA AND UHHH--RELIGION???


There is a 'saying' I have heard often that, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Today, I am the student.


This morning at 7 AM meeting i noticed a very young 'new' girl reading writing notes in , and underlining portions of lines in her Big Book. Later, I wondered why she had not 'listened' instead of 'multi-tasked' during the meeting. She showed me the page she was working. It was in the Appendix page 572, titled "THE RELIGIOUS VIEW ON A.A."

Funny thing (not!)--I have read the Big Book many times (hundreds?), and must have seen that page, but it was like brand new to me this morning. And a girl, age 20, sober 60 days, is 'teaching' me about AA and religion. It became evident that she loves many of the things I have loved for years, the Latin mass, chanting of monks (or anyone), golden statues of the Twelve Apostles adorning the facade of Ave Maria's huge cathedral-like Oratory.

And already at such a young 'sober' age, she is loving AA as I do, maybe with even more fervor, due to youthful enthusiasm.

My 'New View' of the last pages of the Big Book is my blog topic tonight, as copied from our BB. I read this carefully this morning, and again later today. I think, how much more it means to me now--than if I had read it 30 years ago, or 30 DAYS ago. I share this with you now:

"THE RELIGIOUS VIEW ON A.A."

Clergymen of practically every denomination have given A.A. their blessing.

Edward Dowling, S.J.,* of the Queen’s Work staff, says, “Alcoholics Anonymous is natural; it is natural at the point where nature comes closest to the supernatural, namely in humiliations and in consequent humility. There is something spiritual about an art museum or a symphony, and the Catholic Church approves of our use of them. There is something spiritual about A.A. too, and Catholic participation in it almost invariably results in poor Catholics becoming better Catholics.”

The Episcopal magazine, The Living Church, observes editorially: "...The A.A. plan is described by the members themselves as ‘self-insurance.’ This self-insurance has resulted in the restoration of physical, mental and spiritual health and self-respect to hundreds of men and women who would be hopelessly down and out without its unique but effective therapy.”

* Father Ed, an early and wonderful friend of A.A., died in the spring of 1960.

Steve's note: Fr Ed Dowling was Bill W's spiritual advisor for many years.

See ya all tomorrow, as we stay sober with one another's help!

PEACE.
LOVE.
from Steve

There is still hope for all of us and me, too!

16 comments:

Mike Golch said...

Steve,this is a great message.I thank you for sharing it.

Ed G. said...

Thanx - made me look...

Blessings and aloha...

Anonymous :) said...

Age 20 at AA. Bless her heart. Such courage.

Shadow said...

new eyes bring new meaning...

Just Be Real said...

Stevie, good message. You cannot go wrong with that picture either. Blessings.

Gin said...

You never know who you will be touched or moved by.

Andrew said...

I love the cartoon!

Jess Mistress of Mischief said...

Hope for yes, and in us too!

Anonymous said...

Do you notice that when you go to a meeting and share about a Christian higher power people get uptight and say you're not allowed to say these things, but its ok for any other religion or people who use "the table" as their higher power, or people who don't believe in God at all, that's all ok. Just not Christians. That's been my experience. If you even mention anything you're trying to "convert" people so they shut you up.

peet said...

Yes there is hope for us.

It shines out of the lives of
millions of Those of us IN Recovery.

Pete.

Tall Kay said...

Made me look again too. Thank you Steve. I honestly believe I learn more from newcomers in meetings than long-timers. Maybe because they can still only keep it simple? Who woulda thunk?

steveroni said...

No doubt, this is the same way we began nearly 75 years ago--one-on-one.

As we help another, how MUCH more, it was found, that we are helping ourselves--that God is helping us ALL! And it still excites me GREATLY as I continue to realize the magnitude of it all!

Thank you all who have commented.

garden-variety drunk said...

I will have to check out this part of the book again. I love discovering new things in the book over and over again

clean and crazy said...

i have never read the BB or AA literature for that matter. i love learning more and more about the fellowship that started it all, after all if not for AA there would be no NA.

steveroni said...

Clean and crazy:

OR....maybe NA would have been "the" program, and AA would be meeting in the horse barn (Just a JOKE, guys, just a JOKE, Okay?!!!)

NOTE: That's where I practiced my violin on very cold nights, the horse barn. And so 90 deg F. today beats those -10 deg F. of yesterday, for me anyway.

Syd said...

Interesting that religion is one of the three obstacles in Al-Anon. I like to think of the program as spiritual. I will also have to read page 572.