12th Step
Twelve
15/Jun/08
Now I've made it to Step Twelve. It must be
graduation time. Well, no, not really.
One of the great insights that Bill W. had in the beginning of AA is that recovery works best as it is being shared. This is why I need to get involved in carrying the message to others.
Also, the character defects that cause my life to be out of control mess up all of my life, not just one small portion. I really do need to practice these principles in all of my affairs.
I've had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Steps. I don't want to doze off and go back to where I was. I'll keep coming back.
One of the great insights that Bill W. had in the beginning of AA is that recovery works best as it is being shared. This is why I need to get involved in carrying the message to others.
Also, the character defects that cause my life to be out of control mess up all of my life, not just one small portion. I really do need to practice these principles in all of my affairs.
I've had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Steps. I don't want to doze off and go back to where I was. I'll keep coming back.
—Anonymous
An Old-Timer and the Twelfth Step
22/May/08
While I lay in the hospital the thought came to
me that there were thousands of hopeless
alcoholics who might be glad to have what had so
freely been given to me. Perhaps I could help
some of them. They in turn might work with
others.
My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me. Faith without works was dead, he said. An how appallingly true for an alcoholic! For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he did not work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die. Then faith would be dead indeed. With us it was just like that.
My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me. Faith without works was dead, he said. An how appallingly true for an alcoholic! For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he did not work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die. Then faith would be dead indeed. With us it was just like that.
—Bill W.
Newcomers
24/Apr/08
The newcomer to recovery often feels alone in a
hostile environment. To be sure, some of the sea
of troubles he thinks he's drowning in may be of
his own making, but we all have had to begin to
learn to live with the world as it is before we
could begin to find sobriety and serenity within
ourselves.
We shouldn't be too eager to swamp the confused newbie with advice. A warm welcome and words of hope may be all that he can use at first.
Newcomers bring us an opportunity work the Twelfth Step by sharing the healing we have found in Christ. We profit from such giving. As we share our experience, strength, and hope, our own understanding is clarified, and we grow in our own recoveries.
We shouldn't be too eager to swamp the confused newbie with advice. A warm welcome and words of hope may be all that he can use at first.
Newcomers bring us an opportunity work the Twelfth Step by sharing the healing we have found in Christ. We profit from such giving. As we share our experience, strength, and hope, our own understanding is clarified, and we grow in our own recoveries.
—Anonymous
The Fruit of the Spirit
16/Apr/08
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things
there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions
and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us
also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become
boastful, challenging one another, envying one
another.
Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one shall bear his own load. And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.
Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one shall bear his own load. And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.
—Galatians 5, 6 (NASB)
Sharing
03/Apr/08
The traditional version of the Twelfth Step
reads, "Having had a spiritual awakening as a
result of these steps, we tried to carry this
message to others and to practice these
principles in all our affairs." That's important.
Jesus said in Matthew 5 that lamps are not placed
under baskets but put out on stands to spread the
light around the room. So it is with my recovery.
It was not dumb luck that has brought me to recovery. It was the saving power of Christ. My reasonable response to His gift is use the tools of recovery not only for myself but to share this blessing with others.
It was not dumb luck that has brought me to recovery. It was the saving power of Christ. My reasonable response to His gift is use the tools of recovery not only for myself but to share this blessing with others.
—John