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Spirituality and How To Learn From It’s Utilization

I had no training or education in religion or spirituality when new to the Program of AA in 1976. Quickly, I was introduced to the teachings of Emmet Fox. He was an early leader in the New Thought movement of spirituality. Also for the founders of the AA Program. His book, The Sermon on the Mount, was used as the first Big Book in AA.

I was able to look at the AA Program differently after learning that this is a spiritual and not a religious program. Knew nothing about God or Spirituality. I then saw that Step 2 advises us that we needed only to believe that there was a Power greater than ourselves. It could and would help if sought. This is Spirituality 101. Then Step 3 advised us to turn our will and life over to the care of God AS WE UNDERSTOOD HIM, without giving this God a name. I chose my AA group as my Higher Power. It was made up of people just like me. We were all born as Spiritual Beings. We just never knew or forgot this. People who were changing their lives for the better by merely following these simple steps.

I was also advised to “Fake it ‘till you make it.” So I tried it. Guess what? I started feeling much better. I was seeing actual, positive changes in my life. This all came after I dove deeply into Spirituality. I discovered that I could go for hours at a time without thinking of a drink. This was for maybe the first time since I started drinking. I began to feel that there was hope for me. I had no real thoughts or ideas of hope for me when I came into this amazing, sacred program. At one of my first meetings, a half dozen or so people took me aside when I entered.They sat me down. Told me to shut up. And they made me listen. They said that they were going to be my sponsors. Like it or not!

They had been formerly some of the baddest dudes in one of the baddest cities in the US, Detroit. And they were showing me something that I really didn’t understand, love. AND I SAT DOWN. I SHUT UP. AND I LISTENED.

Once I got to the 3rd Step, I told them that I was still in the white knuckle stage. That I was not even able to even remember The Serenity Prayer, let alone the 3rd Step prayer. They told me “Not a problem. Whenever you get into one of these situations, just say ‘God help me.’ Then move on.” So, I tried it and guess what again? Almost instant relief. I was discovering that Spirituality works for me when I use and acknowledge it. You see, I was in a similar situation to a person floating adrift in the middle of Lake Michigan. One with no help in sight. And thinking that there was no way out. Or even hope of it for me.

AA came into my life and a Higher Power came with it. It was in the form of these big, ugly, beautiful men. They didn’t only understood where I was coming from. They also wanted to do nothing but help me. I grabbed for this help just as I would a life preserver tossed to me in the middle of Lake Michigan. Because of where I was, I desperately grabbed the tossed rescue aid. I have not let go ever since.

To this day, decades later, I use the shortened version of the 3rd Step that they told me of. Simply saying “God Help Me.” Now I am able to say even more “God Thank Yous.” This is because the Higher Power that I now choose to call God has never let me down. Do I always get what I want? No, I don’t! But, do I always get what I need? Yes, absolutely. I do! As I start putting this  topic together, I am reminded that I could go on seemingly forever. Forever talking about what Spirituality means to me. But that will be coming at another time. God bless you!

Please let us know what you think. We can be reached at Spiritualityandrecovery@gmail.com or 810-965-6140 usually within hours and many times instantly.

Please come join us at our AA Zoom meeting. It is every Monday through Friday, 3:00 PM EST, including holidays. Meeting ID is 6035280704. Password 399778. It is simple to locate the blogs and Facebook pages. Simply search #spiritualityandrecovery For the podcasts, just go to https://anchor.fm/james-b-boylan

Spirituality
Spirituality